How PUMA are pushing Haaland to Man City over Real Madrid

FT Desk
FT Desk
  • 27 Apr 2022 22:16 BST
  • 3 min read
© ProShots -

Sportswear giants PUMA are pushing Erling Haaland away from Real Madrid and towards signing for Manchester City.

That is according to a report in Goal on Wednesday, which claims that PUMA are promising Haaland a huge financial package if he signs for Manchester City who they also sponsor.

Article continues under the video

Haaland ended his own sponsorship contract with Nike in January. It was subsequently reported in some media that he was signing a deal with Adidas, but Goal claims that isn’t the case yet and PUMA are hoping to lure him.

A move to Man City would benefit Haaland much more financially, both in terms of sponsorship and in basic salary and signing-on fees.

Haaland is set to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season when his €75 million release clause is activated.

Virtually every top club in Europe has been interested in signing the 21-year-old, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich and PSG.

Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund, 2021/22
© ProShots

But it is Real Madrid, Man City and Barcelona who have for some time been in the lead for his signature.

FootballTransfers understands that Barcelona recently pulled out of the race in order to focus on signing Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, leaving it a two-horse race for Haaland between Madrid and City.

But in the last week or so, the consensus has been that Man City have moved firmly into the lead ahead of Madrid for Haaland’s signature.

Pep Guardiola has been searching for a world-class number nine for some time now and unsuccessfully attempted to sign Tottenham striker Harry Kane last summer.

With the help of PUMA, a move to Man City now becomes even more likely.

Haaland has enjoyed two brilliant years at Dortmund since joining from Salzburg in January 2020.

He has scored 82 goals in just 86 games for the club, although he has suffered a number of injuries this season.

Never miss the next big transfer!

Get the latest transfer insights and analyses directly in your mailbox.