Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed reports that Erling Haaland has a clause in his contract allowing him to join Real Madrid for a lower fee.
Another double by Norwegian striker Haaland ensured City strolled to a third win from three Champions League Group G matches on Wednesday with a 5-0 thrashing of FC Copenhagen.
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Those goals took Haaland’s tally since joining City this summer to an extraordinary 19 goals in 12 games in all competitions.
Spanish media reported this week that there is a release clause in Haaland’s City contract that is exclusive to Real Madrid and gives the LaLiga giants a massive advantage if they want to buy him following the 2023-24 season.
Guardiola, however, insisted there was no such clause in the five-year contract Haaland signed when joining from Borussia Dortmund.
“It is not true,” Guardiola added. “He does not have a release clause for Real Madrid or any other team. Rumours, people talk.
“We have to be worried about what we can control. I have the feeling he is very happy here and we will try to make people happy here. He is settled perfectly, incredibly beloved.”
More worryingly for City, Guardiola said defender Kyle Walker has an abdominal injury that will keep him out for a few weeks, casting doubts on the England international’s fitness for the World Cup.
Walker missed City’s victory over Copenhagen, having been withdrawn in the first half of his side’s 6-3 demolition of Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
He is now in a race against time to be fit to start for his country in their World Cup opener against Iran on Nov. 21.
“I know how important the World Cup is for the players,” Guardiola said. “I don’t know [if Walker will be fit].
“Kyle will be out for a while and we don’t have many options. It will be weeks. It is abdominal.”