Man City Unveil Erling Haaland As Striker Reveals African Who Convinced Him To Move to England

Man City Unveil Erling Haaland As Striker Reveals African Who Convinced Him To Move to England

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:04 PM
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  • Erling Haaland has explained that Riyad Mahrez convinced him to sign for Manchester City when the pair met during holiday last summer
  • Haaland was officially unveiled as a new Manchester City player after the English Champions activated his release clause from Borussia Dortmund
  • The Norwegian is also keen to continue his father’s legacy in Manchester after the older Haaland turned out for the club in the early 2000s

New Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has revealed that Riyad Mahrez played a huge part in convincing him to sign for the Premier League champions. Haaland was officially unveiled as a City player on Monday.

The Pep Guardiola side beat other top European sides to sign the teenage striker by activating his release clause from Borussia Dortmund. He joins on a five-year deal contract that will see him become one of the top earners in England.

Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Mykonos, Borussia Dortmund.
Erling Haaland during his official unveiling at Manchester City. Photo by Lynne Cameron.
Source: Getty Images

The Mirror reports that Haaland’s father Alf-Inge was heavily involved in convincing his son to join City. Alf-Inge himself was a player for the Citizens in the early 2000s. But it has now emerged that it wasn’t only the father that was involved in the decision.

Riyad Mahrez met Haaland during their holidays last season in the Mykonos in Greece as other players and the rest of the world took part in the Euro championships. The pair is said to have struck a friendship.

Yes, he told me to come to City, so he was right about that. He talks, he said some good things about the club.

The 21-year-old also explained the role his father played in the transfer.

First of all, my father a little bit. I was born in England, I've been a City fan my whole life and I know a lot about the club.
He lived in England, he played for the club. Of course, a lot of things have changed in the last 20 years but he lived here, so he knows what it is.
We've just been speaking about basically how it is, what's the best for me, what's this, what's that, and to try and find out everything. He's been a good dad in that thing there.

Erling Haaland proves he has been a Manchester City fan since infancy

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland proved he has been a fan of the Premier League champions since infancy.

The Premier League champions confirmed last month that they had reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund to sign the prolific Norwegian forward.

In a photo posted on Twitter, sighted by Sports Brief, the former Borussia Dortmund forward dropped his childhood pictures wearing a Manchester City jersey.

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Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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