Lost in the statistics around Erling Haaland’s goals at the beginning of the season is the fact he is still here to score them.
Seven goals in three Premier League matches is a phenomenal return, but Manchester City have also done extraordinarily well to keep him for this long. The mood in Munich and Madrid in 2022 was that Manchester would only be a brief stop-off for Haaland before he joined their superclubs, while dad Alfie spoke at the time of his son wanting to try himself out in every major European league.
And yet, for all the noise around Haaland’s future that has popped up in his time at City the summer was as silent as one of the striker’s meditations. He captained the Blues during their pre-season tour in the United States and has been charging around the City Football Academy with a beaming smile.
Optimism at Manchester City Over Haaland’s Future
It has to be a positive that he has stayed this long, and Marca reported on Saturday that he could be close to signing a new deal; Spanish media are happy at a supposed exit clause within Real’s reach. Having tried to sort a new contract last year without making much progress, it would be enormous if City were able to announce a new deal.
Ever since he arrived in 2022 though, Txiki Begiristain and Pep Guardiola have known the score with a player represented first by the legendary Mino Raiola and then the formidable Rafaela Pimenta. “Erling is the master of his own destiny, always,” she said last year.
The Role of Haaland’s Agent in Contract Negotiations
“He will always do what’s good for him and for Man City. When they all are open to make a change, it will happen,” continued Pimenta. It is a policy City stick to as well, with players from Leroy Sane to Gabriel Jesus and Julian Alvarez being allowed to leave for the right price when they pushed for a move. Guardiola does not want unhappy players at the club, and Pimenta doesn’t want her clients to be unhappy at their club.
City have managed to keep some of the best players in the world happy enough to remain in Manchester for years despite the advances of other clubs. Ruben Dias has enjoyed the annual game each summer of making his Portugal teammate Bernardo Silva stay at the Etihad.
There will come a time when Haaland leaves, but as long as he is happy, City have nothing to worry about whatever his contract situation. And he certainly looks happy at the moment.
