Pep Guardiola lauded Erling Haaland’s signing of a brand new long-term contract with Manchester Metropolis as “distinctive information for the membership”, and is backing the striker to interrupt extra Premier League information.
Metropolis’s quantity 9, whose current contract ran till 2027, put pen to paper on contemporary phrases that may maintain him on the Etihad Stadium till 2034.
Haaland has scored a whopping 111 targets in simply 126 appearances throughout all competitions since becoming a member of the membership from Borussia Dortmund in June 2022, whereas serving to them win two Premier League titles, the Champions League and FA Cup.
The Norway worldwide has already damaged a number of information throughout his time with the Residents.
They embody scoring the best variety of targets throughout a single Premier League season (36 in 2022-23), whereas turning into the quickest participant to succeed in 50 targets within the division in November 2023 (48 matches).
And Guardiola is delighted to see the 24-year-old commit his long-term future to Metropolis.
Born to be bluepic.twitter.com/cMW3drdQUE
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) January 17, 2025
“He desires to point out how a lot he desires to be right here, in any other case all of the gamers signal one or two-year contracts,” the top coach stated. “In 10 years, many issues can occur, but it surely’s proof of belief between him and the membership.
“He loves the membership and the individuals he’s round. He loves the Premier League and residing right here along with his household. He should really feel there is no such thing as a higher place for him to be within the subsequent 10 years.
“You by no means know what could occur within the subsequent years, however the membership know the way skilled he’s day-after-day to point out his expertise. It was what he needed and that’s all the way down to the belief of the membership.
“If he continues with the numbers since he arrived, then sure [he can break more records]. It should rely upon the staff and him, however it’s distinctive information for the membership.”
Haaland’s tally of 111 targets since becoming a member of Metropolis is essentially the most by any participant throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues, with Actual Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe his closest challenger on 101.
However, Guardiola nonetheless thinks his quantity 9 can get even higher.
On Haaland’s motivations, the Spaniard added: “Perhaps, profitable the following sport and motivation to attain targets. I don’t have a sense that he’s going to say: ‘I’ll take a nap’ now that he has this contract. He is a large competitor.
“In fact, he can enhance. All of us can. The membership and the staff should create an surroundings and moments when he will be unstoppable. That’s when he’s at his finest.
“Greater than something, it’s about understanding the sport, in the course of the sport and what choices he has to make. He’s nonetheless younger and with the maturity of enjoying video games and video games, it would occur naturally.”
