Erling Haaland talks about his contract situation at Manchester City, manager Josep Guardiola’s role and his future at the Etihad, with the striker discussing his future plans
Manchester City star Erling Haaland insists he is on board with the club’s future plans after discussions with the club’s leaders, but insisted he knew Josep Guardiola would stay at least a little longer. The striker has lit up the Premier League since returning in 2022, leading to links over his future.
Real Madrid were rumored to be interested in Haaland, who signed a contract extension with Man City until 2034 earlier this year. His new contract makes him one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League, and although there have been hints of interest from elsewhere, it appears his full focus is on Man City.
Speaking on the podcast The Rest Is Football, he said: “That’s exactly the case and that’s why I signed the contract. There were conversations with the leadership and plans for the next few years and it’s something I wanted to be a part of. And yeah, I’m calm, I’m focused and I’m really happy here. So it’s a really good place to develop and at the end of the day England is a footballing country and I think it’s a great place to play football.”
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Haaland has already scored 20 goals in all competitions this season and has stepped back into action to help Man City dream of another Premier League title. It’s another chance for Guardiola to show off his talent as a manager in pursuit of another trophy, even if his team doesn’t look like a favorite.
It is unclear how long the 54-year-old will remain at the Etihad Stadium, with his latest contract extension running until 2027. Haaland has made it clear that he is keen to work with Guardiola but wants to be part of City’s plans in the long term.
Regarding the manager’s future, he said: “So he signed a new contract, but was it before me or after me? I don’t really know. But I knew he had another year, another year and a half left on his current contract.”
“But most of the conversations were with his boss and my boss, because even though I wasn’t young, I remember 10 years ago my dad saying something like, ‘Don’t go to the club because of the manager.’ It’s difficult sometimes, but in the modern world you never know what’s going to happen.
“But again, Pep was a big reason why I came to City, of course, to be able to work with him and experience his special way of doing things, his efforts and all that stuff. So there’s a certain mix there.”
The future of Guardiola and Haaland will be seen as a key theme for City over the next few years. Be it the Premier League, Champions League or domestic trophies, both are very important for a team’s success these days.
Haaland has already scored 144 goals in 166 appearances for the club, and has been in devastating form during his time at the club so far. In three years he won six trophies and numerous individual awards, proving that he was one of the best players in the world at the time.
According to The Athletic, signing Haaland to a new contract has proven to be a priority for City, with the deal running until 2034 and the added bonus of eliminating an exit clause included in his original contract. This gives the club plenty of security on that front, but not so much on the management side.
Guardiola has been rumored to be leaving the club for several years, but his contract renewal cycle continues. His latest contract should keep him until 2027, but it is unclear what his ambitions will be at the Etihad Stadium after that.
The 54-year-old has won 18 trophies during his time at City, and that number could rise even further by the end of this season. “I’ve got two more years, maybe two more years. So the question is when do I quit this year, when do I take a break in two years, or in four years? But I can say I feel good right now,” he said about his future on Men in Blazers earlier this year.
“The team is giving me a good atmosphere, starting with the (Club) World Cup in America. We created something there. I saw what I liked, which I missed last season.”
“The training sessions, the body language, the little things, arriving on time, running backwards, the way you defend throw-ins, the stupid stuff of recognizing that the team is there. And I think that will help us be more consistent than last season.”
City look to be in contention for the title this season, but they are certainly more consistent and the team is showing once again why they are favorites to win the title.
