Real Madrid and Barcelona Eye Manchester City's Stars Amid Potential Sanctions

Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona believe that a severe sanction against Manchester City could open the door for them to sign some of the Citizens' biggest stars, who previously seemed untouchable. Both clubs have long shown interest in prolific goalscorer Erling Haaland. In January 2025, the Norwegian signed a nine-and-a-half-year contract, and while it doesn't contain a specific clause facilitating his departure if Manchester City were to be relegated, it's hard to imagine him or other top stars remaining to play in the Championship or lower tiers of English football.

Barcelona has lacked a typical central striker since Robert Lewandowski's departure. The Catalans attempted to sign Julián Álvarez but hit a roadblock. Despite Raphinha's phenomenal performance and impressive goal tally since the start of the season, the idea of bringing in a high-profile goalscorer at Camp Nou remains firmly on the agenda.

Real Madrid already boasts Kylian Mbappé, but Florentino Pérez has always envisioned a 'Galáctico' attack featuring both the Frenchman and Haaland.

Rumors circulating in various UK media outlets suggest that Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also potential suitors for the Norwegian's signature.

In Spain, however, claims suggest Real's interest extends beyond Haaland. Joško Gvardiol, Ayub Bouaddi, Elliott Anderson, Enzo Fernández, and Rayan Cherki are all players closely monitored by the Santiago Bernabéu hierarchy, ready to act should Manchester City face a severe scenario, including expulsion from the Premier League, whether as a direct sanction or as a consequence of a significant points deduction.