Nobody can fool him, Pep knows about the link between Haaland and Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are in love with Erling Haaland as he brushed off "noise" around the player's future. Haaland has been the subject of transfer rumours since the day he signed for the Blues in 2022, and after his dad Alfie's declaration that the striker wanted to experience major European leagues the prospect of Real Madrid coming in for a player they missed out on to City has loomed large.

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Haaland is still under contract at City until 2027 but expected negotiations over a new deal this season have not yet occurred and his agent has consistently been clear that when the striker wants to leave he will do. There seems little sign of Haaland being unhappy given the phenomenal success he has enjoyed both personally and with City over the last 18 months, and Guardiola is more used than most to how the Spanish media can make certain clubs look like the perfect destination for the best footballers.

Whatever is said, the City coach and executives know the "reality" of the situation. "Of course you have to ignore it. I know the reality in this world. It doesn’t bother me at all so as much as the players are focused on what they have to do the rest is not important.

"It’s normal that Real Madrid wants the best players, and Barcelona, or in Italy, or PSG, it’s normal. It’s an honour. United want the best players, and Liverpool, and Arsenal. It's not a surprise. If they really want him it is an honour and it means that we did a good job especially Erling in that case made an incredible job so yeah, is it true? I don’t know. Is it just to make a little bit of noise? That’s fine.

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Incredible comments

"We want him (to stay) for a long, long time in this club. We are in love with him. We want him but it’s going to happen when Erling decides to extend the contract or not, when the club decides to extend the contract or not, when we have potential offers for him or not. "If someone wants Erling it’s easy phone, call Man City and ask. So that is what we do when we want to sign someone. It’s not complicated."