Pep Guardiola said Friday that Erling Haaland’s new nine-and-a-half-year contract at Manchester City is “exceptional news” for the Premier League champions.
The 24-year-old striker’s existing deal was due to expire in June 2027 but he has now committed his future to the club for the next decade.
The Norwegian made an instant impact after arriving in Manchester from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and his overall tally for the club stands at a remarkable 111 goals in 126 games.
Haaland’s decision to commit his long-term future to City is a major coup for the club during a season in which they have unexpectedly struggled on the pitch.
Guardiola, speaking just hours after City announced the blockbuster deal, said the length of the agreement showed Haaland’s confidence in the future of the club.
“It’s exceptional news for all of us for the club,” he told a pre-match press conference.
“When one player decides to sign this type of contract, never done before, it’s because he wants to show how desperate he is to be here.”
Guardiola said Haaland could get even better.
“The contract itself will not make him improve,” he said. “It’s himself who if he desires of course can improve. All of us can improve.”
The City manager was asked why Haaland had put pen to paper on such a long deal.
“I think what happened is that he loves the club, the people he’s around, he loves the Premier League, he loves to be here with his wife and now his father,” said Guardiola.
“I think he visualised that there is no better place that I could be right now in the next 10 years, I would say. That’s why he and his family decided to do this step.”
City are sixth in the Premier League table, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool and are highly unlikely to win a fifth straight title.
Despite the team’s struggles, Haaland has scored 16 Premier League goals so far this season.
City face relegation-threatened Ipswich on Sunday.
AFP
