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A chat with Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City board convinced Erling Haaland to effectively commit the rest of his career to the Blues.
Haaland has ripped up the record books in his two-and-a-half years at City and has set his sights on creating a legacy both at the club and in the Premier League.
Transfer speculation has always followed Haaland even after signing at City, with a future move to Real Madrid always in the background and his camp have repeated his intentions to try other leagues before he retires, testing himself at the highest levels across Europe.
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But now that door appears closed, unless Real stump up a lucrative transfer fee to sign him. And Haaland has revealed that he was convinced to commit to City until he is 33 after a chat with Guardiola.
The City boss signed a two year contract himself at the end of 2024, and is unlikely to stay beyond his new deal expiring in 2027, so Haaland will lead the transition to a new era whenever Guardiola does eventually walk away.
In the end, speaking with the people I spoke with, the hunger and the support that I have been getting for the last couple of years from the board, from the bosses and from Pep, it was an easy decision. I am delighted.
“When I spoke to Pep, the best manager in the world, it is also a great thing to speak with him and to train and play under him every single day. To get his input on me and how I can become a better footballer and to develop even more. He is the best.
“Of course, you are here to win trophies, here to perform, here to be at your best and to deliver at your best. That is what you have to do here because you come here, people expect you to win trophies and that is why you are here.”
Sporting Director Txiki Begiristain couldn’t hide his delight at securing Haaland for another ten years, in a deal that will be one of his last before leaving in the summer.
“The fact he is signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player, and his love of this club,” Begiristain said. “In addition to his outstanding natural talent and ability, Erling’s dedication, professionalism, humility and desire to keep getting better sum up what we all strive to achieve at Manchester City.
“He is one of the finest strikers in world football, but Erling is still very young and will only continue to improve working under Pep and his coaching team. If he works hard, which I know he will, he will create an incredible legacy at this football club.
“Now he can focus on his game and continuing to play a huge part in helping us try to achieve even more success.”
Haaland continued to pay tribute to Guardiola, underlining how important the manager was in signing his new deal.
“Not only because he is the best, but he is also the most hard-working person I have ever seen,” the striker said of Guardiola. “People think it is only because this or that, but the amount of hours he puts down is also motivating and inspiring to see. It is funny to work with him, it is hard and it is tough because he demands a lot, but that is what I want.
“I want people to demand a lot from me and to put pressure on me. So far, so good.”