Erling Haaland showed why he might be destined for a role as a sporting director once he hangs up his boots.
The idea of a move into the boardroom is likely to be a long way off for the 24-year-old goal machine but you can never be too prepared for life after football.
Erling Haaland did his best to lure an opposing player to Man City after his exit from the Club World Cup
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Erling Haaland did his best to lure an opposing player to Man City after his exit from the Club World Cup
Haaland netted for City against Al Hilal in the early hours of Tuesday morning but could do little to prevent Pep Guardiola’s men suffering a shock 4-3 defeat to the Saudi Pro League side.
As a result, City were dumped out of the Club World Cup to cap off a disastrous 2024/25 season for the club.
The Norwegian pounced to bring City level at 2-2 early in the second half and had multiple other chances to fire the Premier League side ahead.
But a fine display by Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou kept Haaland and co at bay as Simone Inzaghi’s side booked their place in the quarter-finals.
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After the final whistle, Haaland was seen embracing Bounou before appearing to gesture to the 34-year-old shot stopper to join him at Manchester City.
And while the striker was channelling his inner Hugo Viana, teammate and City goalkeeper Ederson was only a few metres away from the exchange.
The timing of Haaland’s recruitment drive could not have been any worse for the Brazilian following his poor showing in Orlando.
He was at fault for two of Al Hilal’s four goals, twice parrying the ball into the path of Leonardo to net a decisive double.
It comes off the back of a mistake in last week’s win over Juventus and an overall below-par campaign for Ederson who appeared to be on his way out of the club last summer.
While Ederson has confirmed that he will remain at the club next season and see out the duration of his contract, the 31-year-old admits his performances this season have not been up to scratch.
The moment when Haaland appeared to asked Bounou to join him at City
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The moment when Haaland appeared to asked Bounou to join him at CityCredit: @xKGx__
Bounou celebrated Al Hilal's fine win over Manchester City to book their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals against Fluminense
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Bounou celebrated Al Hilal's fine win over Manchester City to book their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals against FluminenseCredit: AFP
Ederson was at fault for two of Al Hilal's goals
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Ederson was at fault for two of Al Hilal's goalsCredit: Getty
“It’s simple. The team has not performed well. Some players have not performed well. My season is not really good,” he told The Athletic.
“I haven’t had any problems along the season. But it’s normal in football. Sometimes you go low, go up, go low, go up. But as the level stands up this season, next season will be different.
The new players come with a new mentality, a new hunger to win the games, win the trophies.”
Meanwhile, Bounou has continued to impress after his heroics for Morocco in their run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.
Born in Canada to Moroccan parents, Bounou (nicknamed Bono) moved to his parents’ homeland as a child and after making the breakthrough into football with Wydad Casablanca, he was handed an opportunity with Atletico Madrid where he was part of the La Liga winning team of 2014.
Spells with Real Zaragoza and Girona followed before a switch to Sevilla which saw him land two Europa League titles.
Bounou helped Sevilla lift the Europa League in 2020 and 2023
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Bounou helped Sevilla lift the Europa League in 2020 and 2023
He moved to Al Hilal in 2023 and played a key role in helping the club win the Saudi Pro League title in 2023.
But it was during his time at Sevilla that Haaland first went head-to-head with Bounou in what turned out to be a tense exchange.
Haaland was seen screaming in the face of the Moroccan after converting a penalty for Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
The Norwegian netted both goals in a 2-2 draw in the Champions League, the second of which came via a retaken penalty resulting in Haaland antagonising the shot-stopper to the annoyance of Sevilla’s players.
“He was too far [off his line],” Haaland told reporters after the match. “If he stood on his line, I would have scored that one - and that’s what happened on the second one.
“I missed and then he cheated. Then I took it again and scored when he didn’t cheat.
Haaland has faced off against Bounou on multiple occasions in European competition
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Haaland has faced off against Bounou on multiple occasions in European competition
“When he was screaming in my face after the first one, I was thinking 'it will be even better to score another goal’ - and that’s what happened, so it was nice.”
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Asked exactly what he shouted back to Bono, Haaland responded: “I don’t want to say. I don’t know what it means but I said what he said after I missed the first one.
"Maybe it’s karma in this world.”