Maybe there was an inevitability about Erling Haaland and Manchester City. After all, there are still employees working at the club who held the Norwegian in their arms when he was a baby.
The son of their player, Alfie. The son who grew into the most frightening young striker in world football. Safe to say that the staff will not be picking him up when he arrives at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland was born in England, a month after his father signed for City almost 22 years ago.
Manchester City are set to finally announce the arrival of Erling Haaland (above) later this week
City’s relationship with his dad Alf-Inge (right), a former Sky Blues player, is thought to be key
Growing up, he has been pictured in a City shirt and attended games — including Champions League nights and cup finals at Wembley.
They always talk glowingly about the Haalands around City.
There has been caution around their interest in a player who has scored more goals, 85, than he has made starts, 78, over the course of two and a half years at Borussia Dortmund.
City knew there was rivalry from Real Madrid and, at one stage earlier this year, the fear was that Haaland preferred Spain.
It has been a straight race between the two clubs who served up those monumental two European semi-final legs.
Unlike last week, City have triumphed. Not even Real can lodge a last-minute comeback from here.
Haaland wondered about La Liga and whether, at this stage of his career, it may suit him better — a feeling that the Premier League, more demanding on a weekly basis, could wait.
Haaland was born in Leeds, has been pictured in a City shirt and went to several of their games
They always talk glowingly about the Haalands family around the Etihad Stadium
Ultimately, the evergreen excellence of Karim Benzema was a factor in his decision to shun Real. At City, he will be the main man. The Bernabeu is for another day and the acceptance around the game is that Real will be his…
Source : dailymail
