Erling Haaland is going nowhere. Not this summer, not next. That's the message from the Etihad, and it hasn't changed.

But the noise from Spain isn't going away. According to a report from TEAMtalk, both Barcelona and Real Madrid are working on the belief that Haaland might fancy a move to La Liga in 2027. Their transfer correspondent, Graeme Bailey, says the two clubs are looking at that summer as a potentially significant one.

It's not the first time this has come up. TEAMtalk were reporting back in November 2025 that 2027 was being viewed as a possible point where the striker might consider a new challenge. The link to Spain's big two has been a recurring theme for years now.

What's interesting this time is the suggestion that there's a different understanding of the contract situation. Sources close to Barcelona and Real Madrid apparently believe there are mechanisms within the agreement that could eventually allow a departure. That's a direct contradiction of what City have always said.

When speculation flared up again in June, the club were emphatic. No chance of him leaving, and no clause in the contract that would let it happen. Sky Sports reported at the time of the original deal that it contained no release clauses. City have given no indication since that their position has shifted.

And what a deal it was. Haaland signed a nine-and-a-half-year agreement in January 2025, tying him to the club until the summer of 2034. He's still got eight years left on that contract. It was one of the most significant commitments a player has ever made to a Premier League club.

None of this should be a surprise. Haaland is central to Enzo Maresca's plans. He's the focal point of the team, the man everything is built around. The idea of City entertaining any kind of exit – even one three years down the line – seems far-fetched.

But that won't stop the stories. Real Madrid and Barcelona have been linked with him repeatedly, and they're not going to stop just because there's a long contract in place. If anything, the length of the deal makes the speculation more persistent. It gives them something to chip away at.

The key point here is that there's no suggestion Haaland has asked for a transfer. No indication he's unhappy. No hint that City are even considering the possibility. It's a story built on the belief of two clubs who would love to sign him, not on anything concrete.

For City fans, it's a familiar pattern. Every few months, a report emerges linking one of the squad's best players with a move to Spain. Most of the time, nothing comes of it. This one might be no different.

But 2027 is a while away yet. Plenty can change in football. The only thing that's certain right now is that Haaland is a City player, and on the evidence of everything the club has said and done, he's going to remain one for the foreseeable future.