Real Madrid presidential hopeful stands firm on Haaland and Rodri claims

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme is standing by his campaign pledge to bring Erling Haaland and Rodri to the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite official denials from the players' representatives and Manchester City, Riquelme maintains that such pushback is simply a standard part of high-stakes football negotiations.

Drawing parallels to the controversial signing of Luis Figo in 2000, Riquelme argues that public denials are a defensive tactic used during major transfer sagas. He confirmed that his team has already initiated private contact with the English champions to clarify his public statements and prevent any potential misunderstandings.

To prove his commitment to the club's voting members, Riquelme has pledged to personally cover the membership fees of 100,000 Madridistas—a commitment totaling approximately €15 million—if he fails to deliver on his transfer promises. He claims he would not risk his professional reputation unless he was certain of his proposal.

While Riquelme claims that contractual clauses exist for both players, he acknowledged that formal negotiations with the hierarchy at Manchester City would be necessary. He reiterated his respect for the club, noting that he is prepared to engage in direct talks to resolve the situation.