Rafaela Pimenta, the agent of Manchester City hero Erling Haaland, has given her response to the speculation about a mooted release clause in her client’s Etihad contract.
Since his arrival in England, several reports have claimed that the superstar has such a clause that becomes active in 2024 and could be as high as £175m. These articles also moot Real Madrid are keeping an eye on the situation ahead of a potential future bid.
Haaland has had a sensational start to life at City, scoring 23 goals in 18 matches which includes 18 in 13 Premier League outings. The attacker will be resting during the World Cup after Norway’s failure to qualify for the finals so will be ready to increase his tally and possibly go for the league record when the season resumes in December.
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Agent Pimenta said Haaland “deserves” the hype he is getting although remained tight-lipped on any release clause suggestions. “You have to do it [ask the question about the release clause] and it is very interesting,” she told a reporter, as per Marca.
“If we don’t say anything, surely something is interpreted and if we say something, too. As a lawyer I know that I can’t say anything, but I also know that if I don’t say it, they will say it.”
She added: “It’s a very nice thing [the rumours], but I hope there aren’t too many. I understand the attention, the curiosity that arouses. It’s the novelty.
“Curiosity is normal, but I hope with Erling, when there are no things to say, they don’t make them up. This is something that is happening. They look for easy clicks. There is exaggerated news.
“Haaland must be protected from this situation because he is a very young boy who still has to grow up. Everything is news around him, but it has to be because of his goals and his way of playing. I don’t want other things to come.”
Pimenta also commented on what her future hopes are for Haaland amid Madrid’s interest. She described how his father, ex-City star Alfie Haaland, had spoken to her about ensuring the right steps for his career are carried out. “A perfectly planned career? I do not know,” Pimenta said.
“What I do know is that it is structured. What happens I cannot know. Things can change. We are clear about what we want to do.
“When his father first arrived at the office, he looked at me and told me that the most important thing was planning the project. He found the right site and agency because we always have a project for all players.”
She continued: “It is a professional project, but we are talking about variables that we do not control. They are all wonderful, but 20 years ago we outlined a project with a Brazilian player and he had five serious injuries.
“The project could not work. With Erling we have had a project from the beginning and the project is working. Keep going.”
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