Erling Haaland’s release clause at Manchester City has been delayed by a year to coincide with the end date of Pep Guardiola’s contract extension.
Guardiola, whose previous deal was due to expire at the end of this season, put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension in November. That ensures that the Catalan will remain in the City hot seat through to the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
It has emerged that the extension of Guardiola’s stay in Manchester is tied into the future of Haaland, as a key element of the Norwegian striker’s contract was dependent upon the renewal of the coach.
Haaland signed a five-year deal with City last summer. However, this had a large caveat that a release clause worth €200million (£175.5m) would come into force before the halfway point of that contract.
As reported by The Athletic, that clause was due to kick-in at the end of the 2023/24 campaign – Haaland’s second season in Manchester. Fresh reports suggest that Guardiola’s new contract through to the summer of 2025 will delay that clause being triggered by a further 12 months, to coincide with the manager’s contractual end date.
A report on Catalunya Radio on Thursday, as detailed by Spanish outlet Marca, has outlined how Guardiola’s deal was directly linked to Haaland’s release clause. Such news is likely to come as a blow to clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are eyeing the Norwegian’s contractual situation.
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Haaland put in a virtuoso performance as City destroyed RB Leipzig 7-0 in Tuesday’s last-16 second leg in the Champions League.
The striker – whose five goals came within a devastating 35-minute spell – already had a hat-trick by half-time; a penalty, a close-range finish stemming from his pressing of the goalkeeper and a scrappy third after Leipzig had cleared the ball off the line. Two more close-range finishes furthered the pain for the visitors, either side of Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne goals.
Haaland was substituted off in the 62nd minute of the match, denying him the opportunity to score a double hat-trick in the encounter. The Norwegian admitted after the match he was frustrated at being taken off with half an hour remaining.
Haaland’s remarkable five-goal haul ensured he moved beyond the 30-goal mark in the Champions League, becoming the youngest player in history to reach that milestone – secured by his hat-trick strike just before the break.
He was aged 22 years and 236 days, which is 116 days younger than Kylian Mbappe was when the Frenchman reached the landmark. Lionel Messi was aged 23 years and 131 days when he moved onto 30; a sign of the Norwegian’s remarkable ability.
