Erling Haaland joined the chanting and celebration of Manchester City fans as the team’s newest signing was unveiled outside the Premier League champions’ stadium on Sunday.
A month ago the Norwegian striker completed his transfer to City from Borussia Dortmund for €60m (then $63m) to seal his return to England, his native country.
Asked what he will bring to the Premier League, the 21-year-old Haaland said: “Hopefully a bit more quality with me as a striker. I want to have fun. When I have fun he scores goals. I smile. I enjoy playing soccer and I smile a lot.”
Haaland has scored 20 goals in 21 appearances for Norway and has a total of 86 goals in 89 appearances in two and a half seasons with Dortmund. Prior to that, he was in Molde in Norway and then in Salzburg, Austria, where he initially caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs thanks to his Champions League performances.
His father, Alf-Inge, played for City – where he briefly captained – in the Premier League from 2000-03 and Erling supported the team in his childhood, often attending Maine Road – the club’s former home – accompanied by his mother to watch his father play.
When asked who his idol was growing up, Haaland replied, “My father, of course. But at home I have (Sergio) Agüero shirts, I must say. So of course, from City, him.”
Haaland inherited the number 9 on the shirt, vacated by the team’s leading scorer, Aguero, who left for Barcelona last year only to be forced into retirement with a heart problem.
There is a new Argentine striker at City, Julián Álvarez joining from River Plate having been on loan with the Buenos Aires club after signing a contract with City in January.
Álvarez, 22, was also presented outside the Etihad Stadium.
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