Premier League leaders Manchester City have signed Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund but the deal has not gone down well with every member of Pep Guardiola’s squad, according to FootMercato.
Back in 2019, ESPN pointed out that City backed out of the race to sign both Frenkie de Jong and Alexis Sanchez, fearing that breaking their wage structure would have resulted in ‘friction’ behind the scenes.
The Champions League semi-finalists were obviously willing to make an exception on Haaland however.
And who can blame them? With 85 goals in just 88 games for Bundesliga giants Dortmund, this is a generation-defining talent we’re talking about. A man who, at just 21, still has his best years ahead of him.
A scary thought indeed.
Man City sign Erling Haaland
According to talkSPORT, Haaland will earn £375,000-a-week at the Etihad Stadium.
A pay-packet that immediately propels him ahead of the likes of Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Raheem Sterling and Ederson, making the Norway international Man City’s second-highest earner behind only Kevin de Bruyne.
And while there is an acceptance that one of world football’s most prolific centre-forwards could take an already imperious City side to a whole new level – Guardiola’s charges surely would have avoided that humiliating collapse against Real Madrid if they had Haaland to put away the vast array of chances they created over two legs – the former Salzburg stars’ eye-watering wages are reportedly threatening to cause problems in the dressing room.
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According to FootMercato, some of the City squad now feel ‘less valued’ than the new signing. They have made their frustrations clear, too.
“One thing is certain, Erling Haaland will receive a lot of money,” FM write.
“According to our information, some players among Guardiola’s faithful consider themselves less well valued than the new recruit and do not hesitate to let it be known.”
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