Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaks to Erling Haaland as he waits to enter the field as a substitute during the Erling Haaland, the Manchester City superstar, has made quite a big splash since his arrival just over a year and a half ago. Known for his powerful scoring streak, he scored an amazing 52 goals in 53 games in his first season at Etihad.
He played a key role when Manchester City clinched the treble for the first time, which included the coveted Champions League title. But Man City fans might have to brace themselves. They’re worried that the Norwegian whiz kid might soon seek new adventures — no doubt to the relief of Liverpool and other rivals.
Haaland’s dad, ex-City player Alf-Inge Haaland, stirred up these worries during the documentary ‘Haaland: The Big Decision’. He hinted back in 2022 that his son could be with the Premier League champions for “three or four years at the most”. This comes amid rumors linking him with Real Madrid — a dream move according to some.
Haaland Sr said: “I think Erling wants to prove his abilities in all leagues. Then he can stay there [Manchester City] for three or four years at the most. He could be, for example, two-and-a-half years in Germany, two-and-a-half years in England and then in Spain, Italy, France, right?”
Last year, it was revealed by The Athletic that a $191m (£150m/€176m) release clause in the striker’s contract, due to become active next summer, had been cancelled. This was linked to Pep Guardiola’s future, who extended his contract until 2025 shortly after Haaland joined.
However, this week, the City manager hinted he might not be at the club beyond next year, following the departure of Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool. This came just days after Guardiola teased about signing a new contract.
On Wednesday, when asked about his future plans, Guardiola didn’t commit to signing another extension. But he did say he felt “really good”, just days after Klopp announced he would soon leave his role at Liverpool.
Guardiola told reporters: “We have to see how players’ behavior is, whether we are keeping our standards. Next year will be nine seasons, which is a lot of time. Extending after two years is not the same as extending after nine. We have a lot of time [to decide]. But now I feel really good.”
Since joining Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola has won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Klopp and Liverpool have been a constant thorn in his side, and have also claimed all the major trophies during that period.
Liverpool.com says: Much like losing Klopp is a bigger blow than losing any player at Liverpool, there’s no doubt that Guardiola’s eventual exit will rock Manchester City more than losing Haaland. Still, it would rather avoid both scenarios for as long as possible.
