Rumors are circulating that Erling Haaland has set a clear condition for staying with Manchester City: he will only remain at the club if manager Pep Guardiola continues as well.
The Norwegian international has started the current Premier League season in incredible form, scoring 11 goals in nine matches for the Citizens. Haaland’s contributions have helped Manchester City maintain an unbeaten start to the season, leaving them only a point behind reigning champions Liverpool.
However, discussions around potential consequences for Manchester City loom, as the club could face sanctions, such as a points deduction, relegation, or even expulsion, if certain allegations are proven true. Such a scenario has raised questions about Guardiola’s future with the club and sparked uncertainty about the commitment of several key players, including Haaland.
Haaland has been a standout performer for City, already earning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and a Champions League trophy in just his first two seasons. Reports from Spain suggest that Haaland has issued a “warning” to Manchester City in what’s being called a transfer “ultimatum.” He has made it clear that he intends to stay but only if Guardiola remains as manager.
It’s reported that Guardiola is well aware of Haaland’s importance to the team’s long-term ambitions and realizes that losing his star striker could threaten the future success of City’s project. Consequently, he is now tasked with managing the situation in a way that maintains harmony within the squad and ensures Haaland’s commitment.
Additionally, Haaland has been linked with clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, which are reportedly monitoring his situation at Manchester City. The striker is said to have communicated to the board that if Guardiola departs, he may also be inclined to leave.
This dilemma is reportedly a concern for Guardiola, who sees it as a potential obstacle to leaving behind a “solid and well-structured legacy” whenever he eventually steps away from the Etihad Stadium.
Meanwhile, Haaland scored once more as Manchester City claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Southampton in the Premier League last Saturday. Following the game, Guardiola offered praise for Southampton’s performance, commending their style of play.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Guardiola highlighted how Southampton did more than just defend deep; they displayed excellent ball control, effective movement, and strategic play involving the goalkeeper. “Today, it was not about how Southampton defended deep but rather how well they played with the ball, with their goalkeeper, and with movement,” Guardiola observed.
He added, “It’s an excellent game to learn from as a manager. Russell [Southampton’s coach] will teach me a lot because they performed really well. We were modest in acknowledging that they played at a high level.”
During the post-match news conference, Guardiola emphasized his belief in the “build-up process,” where precise ball movement is crucial. He said, “I believe in the build-up process. I prefer that the ball land on the players’ feet rather than their teeth. When that happens, it means the process was fantastic.”
He explained that his team was not sloppy or flat, but they did struggle to regain possession because of Southampton’s quality on the ball. “I am a spectator,” he said. “When I see the opponent doing things I enjoy doing with my team, and they do them really well, I applaud them. I am confident I will learn from their movements and the reasons behind them.”
Guardiola concluded by acknowledging the difficulty of Premier League competition, stating, “When people say everyone in the Premier League can beat everyone, they’re not lying. It’s so challenging that every game feels like a battle.”
Reflecting on his own squad, Guardiola expressed confidence, saying, “I have no concerns about my team because when the opponent is excellent, you must accept it. This is what happened.”
