Erling Haaland’s future at Manchester City may be secure for now, but one former City midfielder believes the Norwegian’s long-term stay at the Etihad should not be taken for granted.Haaland has committed himself to the club on a contract running until 2034 and remains the centrepiece of City’s attack. Yet with the club entering a new era and facing questions over whether it can maintain the dominance of recent seasons, Gareth Barry believes the next couple of years could be decisive in determining whether the prolific striker eventually looks for a new challenge
Why Haaland could eventually look elsewhere
Haaland joined City in 2022 and has already established himself as one of the most prolific goalscorers in the club’s history.The 26-year-old has scored 162 goals in 200 appearances across all competitions for City, while playing a major role in a period that included a historic Treble in 2022-23. His long-term contract, signed in 2024, was designed to keep one of football’s most coveted strikers at the Etihad well into the next decade.But Barry does not believe the length of that agreement necessarily means Haaland will see it through.Speaking exclusively to GOAL, the former England international said: “Erling Haaland leaving Man City one day is inevitable.”Barry stressed that Haaland has no reason to force an exit while City remain competitive, and expects the striker to avoid the kind of public agitation that has accompanied some high-profile transfers.“As much as Haaland’s association with City is really big, and that will keep him there for now, he won’t be rocking the boat like you see a lot of other players doing,” Barry said.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Bournemouth in Manchester, England, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
The former City player believes the situation could change if the club’s trophy haul begins to decline.“I think if City’s dominance does wane a little bit and the trophies aren’t coming in, it will fuel the speculation,” he explained. “It is natural sometimes to want a new challenge, and I’m sure Haaland will be no different.”Barry’s prediction is therefore less about Haaland wanting out immediately and more about what happens around him.“It’s not just going to happen overnight. Haaland will think about his career, which is short,” he said. “But if the trophies aren’t coming in, it will just fuel speculation.”And given Haaland’s standing in the game, Barry expects the striker to have no shortage of options if he eventually decides the time is right.“He will have offers from all over the world because he’s the best striker in the world, so it’s just natural. It’s one you can see happening in the future.”
The next two years could be crucial
For Barry, the most important period may not be the end of Haaland’s current contract but the next two seasons.He believes the striker’s eventual decision will be heavily influenced by how competitive City remain domestically and in Europe.“A lot will depend on how competitive City are in Europe and the Premier League in the next year or two, I should imagine,” Barry said.That is particularly significant given the changes taking place around Haaland.Pep Guardiola has departed after his long spell in charge, while City are now entering a new era under Enzo Maresca. At the same time, Rodri has left, removing one of the most influential players from the team’s midfield.Those developments have led Barry to question whether City can immediately return to the top of the Premier League.
Barry expects Arsenal to be favourites
City have gone two seasons without winning the Premier League, with Liverpool and then Arsenal restoring themselves to the top of the domestic game.Barry, who helped City win their first Premier League title in 2011-12, believes the latest changes could make a title challenge even more difficult.“Even before selling Rodri, given the turnover of managers at City, it would have been tough to overturn Arsenal from where they are at the moment,” he told GOAL.“I think with Rodri going, they’re even less of a threat now to challenge Arsenal.”Barry expects City to strengthen further and believes new additions could ease the burden on Elliot Anderson and the rest of the midfield, but he does not think that will necessarily be enough to make them favourites.“I’m sure they’re going to sign one or two to improve and maybe replace him, which will help [Elliot] Anderson and the other players in that midfield,” he said. “I’d say they have less of a chance to challenge and maybe win the title now Rodri is gone. I won’t say they’ve given the title away, but it’s making it a lot harder.”His assessment of the title race is emphatic.“I have Arsenal down as huge favourites,” Barry said. “I just feel with City, with what’s going on, the threat is less and less this season and Rodri leaving has just added to that, really. So I can see the other clubs improving.”He also expects Chelsea to progress after missing out on Champions League football, while believing Manchester United and Aston Villa could find European competition challenging.Ultimately, Barry still expects City to finish second but sees a sizeable gap between them and Arsenal.“I still think City will possibly be in second place, but they’ll be less of a threat than they were last year,” he said.
Spain remains a possible destination
Haaland’s future has already been linked with the two biggest clubs in Spain.Real Madrid’s long-standing pursuit of elite attacking talent means the Norwegian continues to be associated with a potential move to the Santiago Bernabéu, while Barcelona are also expected to consider options for the No. 9 position as they plan for life beyond Robert Lewandowski.Those links have existed since Haaland established himself as one of Europe’s premier strikers and could become increasingly prominent if City’s competitive level drops.A move to Madrid was even part of the platform of former Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, who promised to sign Haaland had he won the club’s election.He did not, leaving the situation unchanged for now.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland shows his frustration during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Bournemouth in Manchester, Sunday Aug. 23, 2026. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
There is no indication that Haaland is currently pushing to leave City, and his enormous contract gives the club significant security. But Barry’s argument is that circumstances, rather than the contract itself, could ultimately determine the striker’s next move.If City continue challenging for major honours, there may be little reason for Haaland to look elsewhere. If that dominance begins to disappear, however, the equation changes.For a striker who has already achieved extraordinary numbers at the Etihad and who is entering what should be the prime years of his career, the next two seasons could tell City, and Haaland, whether the future is still in Manchester.
