Instead, he states the Norway forward has made no commitment to anyone, despite the furore generated by Enrique Riquelme's election-week promises.
Watzke, who oversaw Haaland's two-season spell at Dortmund between 2020 and 2022, spoke to Diario AS in an interview that provided the most credible insight yet into the player's thinking — coming from someone with genuine personal knowledge of the Manchester City striker.
"I know very well what he thinks, and I can say that he certainly admires Real Madrid and would like to play for them in the future, but next season he will continue playing for Manchester City. Without a doubt."
He was equally direct about the longer trajectory.
"He loves Real Madrid and he doesn't hide it. I think he'll be playing there in two or three years, but not that soon. He hasn't committed to anyone, as his father has said."
Watzke's comments come days after Riquelme appeared on Spanish television claiming Haaland had agreed to join if the challenger won Sunday's election — a claim denied swiftly and firmly by Haaland's agent Rafaela Pimenta, his father Alfie Haaland and Manchester City, who announced they were considering legal action over the unauthorised use of the player's image.
The episode made Riquelme's Haaland pledge the most scrutinised and ridiculed moment of the entire presidential campaign.
Haaland signed a nine-and-a-half year contract extension with City in January 2025, running until 2034. He has been one of the most prolific strikers in Premier League history since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, winning three league titles and a Champions League.
The Watzke interview also touched on Riquelme's pledge to bring Jürgen Klopp to the Bernabéu. The Dortmund president worked with the German coach for a decade and was similarly unambiguous.
"Jürgen Klopp is a great coach. He has always shown that. But right now he has absolutely no intention of coaching any team. He is not going to sign for anyone. He is convinced of that."
Florentino Pérez, the strong favourite to win Sunday's vote, is expected to submit a formal offer of €150m for Bayern München winger Michael Olise on Tuesday if re-elected.