Haaland under the microscope after City's financial verdict
At the Etihad Stadium, Erling Haaland celebrates a goal while Peter Byrne’s camera captures the moment and journalist José Luis Artús covers the scene; at the same time, Manchester City is found guilty of 114 out of 115 financial irregularity charges, as The Athletic reported on Friday.
Relegation risk for City
The verdict could entail a severe penalty, even the possibility of relegation from the Premier League.
If relegation materialises, the focus would shift to the stars of the team managed by Enzo Maresca.
The first to be singled out would be the 26‑year‑old Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who at his peak was coveted by almost all the major European clubs.
The media wonder what would happen to the Norwegian in the event of relegation; it is already mentioned that it would be a market opportunity for powerhouses such as FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Hours after the verdict, Yaca Garcia‑Planas reported that Haaland was silenced, while Xavi Solé proclaimed him ‘King of the North’ and compared him to Ronaldo.
Despite having signed a contract until 2034 with no known release clause, if City were to leave the Premier League, Haaland would become the primary target of clubs with sufficient resources, although we will still have to wait.