Erling Haaland’s Manchester City release clause sees staggering u-turn following Pep Guardiola decision

Erling Haaland’s Manchester City release clause has now sensationally deactivated, after Pep Guardiola penned a new deal until 2025 in November, according to a new report.

Pep Guardiola signed a new deal at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2025 late last year, extending his stay as manager of Manchester City by a further two years, after joining the club in the summer of 2016 from Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, Erling Haaland joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund just months prior to the Catalan’s extension, with the Blues beating a host of European giants including Real Madrid to the signature of the 22 year-old.

The Norwegian international has had an incredible start to life in England, scoring 39 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions, including numerous hat-tricks and a five-goal haul against RB Leipzig in the Champions League this month.

Erling Haaland became only the third player to score five goals in a single UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday night, when Manchester City thrashed Marco Rose’s Leipzig 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

The forward also leads the race for the Premier League golden boot so far this season, with an outstanding 28 goals in the English top-flight for the reigning division champions.

Upon signing for the Premier League champions last summer, it had been widely reported that the 22 year-old’s Manchester City contract contained a release clause – an element demanded during negotiations with all clubs.

However, a brand new bombshell revelation by journalist Ruben Uria of GOAL now claims that Erling Haaland’s release clause at the Etihad Stadium has actually deactivated upon the extension of Pep Guardiola’s contract.

According to the report, if Manchester City’s manager stayed beyond the end of this season, the release clause in Erling Haaland’s contract with the club would be ‘deactivated and completely cancelled’.

The esteemed Catalan coach penned a new two-year deal in November, prolonging his stay with Manchester City until at least 2025, having previously been out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

Uria reports that Erling Haaland and Manchester City agreed that if Pep Guardiola left in 2023, the striker would stay one more year with another coach and have a release clause in 2024.

As a result of Guardiola signing a new deal, Haaland’s release clause reportedly no longer exists.

The latest development will come as a huge blow to the likes of Real Madrid, who maintained their interest in the player despite him opting to sign for Manchester City last summer.

However, it would be fair to presume that with Manchester City now having a clear upper-hand in any future negotiations that Etihad Stadium officials would demand an astronomical sum of money for a player who is so crucial to their future plans, and more importantly, in contract.