Erling Haaland has said he is “incredibly happy” at Manchester City after being questioned about the club’s Premier League charges while on international duty with Norway.
The striker spoke after scoring one goal and assisting another in Norway’s 3-1 Nations League win over Wales. The questioning afterwards turned to the “situation” at City.
Haaland’s Response to the Charges
An independent commission has found the club guilty of 114 charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period between 2009/10 and 2017/18. City are appealing the decision and maintain they are innocent of the accusations.
Speaking to Norwegian television channel TV2, Haaland said: “The investigation covered 2009 to 2018. In 2009, I played for Bryne U9s. In 2010, the U10s; in 2011, the U11s; 2012, the U12s; 2012, the U13s. Shall we continue? We don't need the whole list…”
He continued: “2014, the U14s; 2015, the U15s and the national team, then the U16s, I think. In 2016, I moved up to Bryne's first team, second team and youth team. In 2017, I went to Molde. In 2018, I was with Molde: the first team, Molde 2 and a bit with the youth team.”
Haaland on the Legal Battle
“So this is a question I struggle to answer because it's a legal battle… It's a case between the Premier League and Manchester City that a panel will deal with. Am I supposed to answer that? I'm not really sure.”
Haaland then listed several of his compatriots who played for City during that period. He said: “There were quite a few Norwegians at the club during that period, I think. Abdisalam Ibrahim, Martin Samuelsen and Omar Elabdellaoui were there. Kjetil Haug was there too. I think there were a couple more, but I can't remember.”
“But it's a difficult question to answer when I don't really know that much about it. I assume the answers will come… I don't know when. I haven't read much about it.”
Haaland’s Commitment to City
“To be completely honest, I'm focused on trying to perform for Manchester City. A club I signed a five-year deal with in 2022 and a new nine-and-a-half-year deal in late 2024. I think that says everything about the matter. I'm a City player, and I'm incredibly happy there.”
Asked whether the situation affects his thinking about the future with City, Haaland replied: “I understand that you want a little headline here, but as I said, I signed a long-term contract in 2024. I'd say I made a pretty good choice by joining City in 2022. We can all agree on that.”
“I won't say it myself, but look at the trophies I've won and how I've developed on and off the pitch. I'm standing here after winning an international 3-1, and we're top of our group in Europe.”
“Things aren't going so well for City in the league, but we'll try to turn that around against Fulham. But we can't focus on that now. Now we have to focus on Denmark.”
Norway need to win away in Denmark on Tuesday to finish second in their group and progress to the Nations League quarter-finals.
