Man City chief Khaldoon Al Mubarak recalls Erling Haaland conversation that left him stunned on striker’s first day
ERLING HAALAND told Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak he would win him the Champions League in their very first conversation.
The Norwegian had a sensational first season at the Etihad as his 52 goals helped Pep Guardiola’s men to the Treble.
European glory was the one thing missing from the City trophy cabinet despite going close on several occasions.
And when he joined the club from Borussia Dortmund last summer, Haaland made the chairman a promise that he would put that right.
Khaldoon said: “What an addition he has been. So this was, I think, my first conversation post him signing the contract.
“But what amazed me about Erling is the confidence. He’s got something special, confidence with respect.
“After signing the contract, he said at the end, ‘Mr. Chairman, I’m going to win the Champions League for you. I’m here to win the Champions League for Manchester City and we’re going to win it’.
“He said that a year ago and it really is a testament to the greatness of this player.”
The £51.4 million ace enjoyed a sensational first season in England – but Khaldoon reckons this is just the beginning for the 22-year-old forward.
He added: “To show you where Erling is going, this is the beginning. And the scary part, this is just the beginning for him.
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“The beauty of Erling is that he’s a champion. He’s never satisfied. If it’s one goal, if it’s no goals, if it’s two goals, if it’s five goals, even five goals.
“I remember when he scored five after the game, he was telling me, ‘Yeah, but I should have scored another three or four’, genuinely not joking.
“Like in his mind, he knows ‘I should have probably scored seven that night or even eight that night’.
“That’s that winning mentality. That’s that winning recipe which you know is the intangible.
“That’s the intangible, the anomaly that makes you great. And in Erling, I think this club now, we have an unbelievable, unbelievable player.”