Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in SPAT with Erling Haaland – which could lead to a high-profile sale to Real Madrid: report

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaks with Erling Haaland of Manchester City as they walk off the pitch at half time during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester City at Turf Moor on August 11, 2023 in Burnley, England.
(Image credit: Copa/Getty Images)

Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland have had a big fallout – with the Scandinavian superstar ready to quit the Etihad Stadium in the near future.

That's the incredible claim from one report, suggesting that Catalan genius Guardiola has upset his talismanic striker. With an apparent £175 million release clause in his contract touted at one stage, it's possible that the richest clubs on Earth could vie for Haaland's signature.

Journalist Eduardo Inda, via Bernabeu Digital, has revealed that Haaland's recent spat with Guardiola could jeopardise the Norwegian's Premier League career, with the insinuation that Real Madrid could pounce. 

Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Could Erling Haaland leave Manchester City? (Image credit: Getty Images)

“They tell me from the player’s entourage that there has been a certain disagreement with Guardiola since before the Ballon d’Or gala,” Inda said. “Pep grandly praised Messi, saying that his worst season ‘Leo coincided with the best of Haaland.’

“[He] praised both of them, but he [used] that phrase and Haaland was not amused. There is a certain distance from the coach. The relationship is not in a good moment. What you have to say is that the Ballon d'Or has to go to your star and not Leo Messi.”

Ultimately, Messi won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Haaland, who finished second in the award's voting.

Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Erling Haaland (Image credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Guardiola, of course, managed Messi during his time at Barcelona, winning two Champions Leagues with the Argentine. He even tried to sign his former protege as recently as the summer of 2021. 

Haaland is worth €180m according to Transfermarkt

More Manchester City stories

Manchester City are linked once again with a move for North American speedster Alphonso Davies, while news has come out of a £52m wonderkid bid that they had rejected. Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with an exit, and Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo has been linked

Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic has been accused of celebrating a Chelsea goal and De Bruyne has addressed rumours he's collaborated with Drake.

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.

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