Erling Haaland
Madrid, Spain – October 21, 2025: Champions League match between Villarreal FC and Manchester City played in Villarreal. Manchester City players during the match.
Norway manager Ståle Solbakken has refused to elaborate on the details of Manchester City star Erling Haaland’s latest medical visit.
The striker has been first choice for Pep Guardiola since his arrival at the Etihad from Borussia Dortmund in 2022. He has also been No.1 for the national team over several years.
Haaland has continued to impress for Manchester City this season, scoring 30 goals and contributing seven assists form 43 matches.
He’s only missed one game [1-0 win over Leeds United in February] this season due to a knock.
Haaland’s Premier League stats are as follows:
Appearances: 29
Starts: 28
Goals: 22
Assists: 7
Shots on target per game: 1.7
Big chances missed: 24
The 25-year-old wasn’t part of the squad for Norway’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Netherlands last Friday.
Solbakken had already confirmed last Monday that his striker would miss this fixture and only join the national team camp on Saturday. He will be in contention to face Switzerland later today.
Manchester City player travelled to Barcelona
Erling Haaland took advantage of last week’s break and made a trip to Barcelona, where he visited Dr Ramon Cugat. He shared a picture with the well known specialist on social media.
Tuesday’s edition of Dagbladet says the frontman appeared happy and smiling during the training sessions with Norway.
His ‘body looked fine’ and Ståle Solbakken has confirmed he will start but won’t play the full match against Switzerland.
The newspaper were curious to find out from the national team boss why the Manchester City man visited Cugat, who is a renowned knee specialist.
“From the little I’ve spoken with him, everything seems fine, so he’ll give it a try now,” he said.
When pressed what kind of ‘injury are we talking about’, Solbakken explained: “There must be a reason he went to see a doctor, and it’s confidential, isn’t it?”
Dagbladet point out Haaland didn’t speak to the Norwegian media himself.
Haaland’s fitness key for Guardiola and City
Manchester City won the EFL Cup by defeating Arsenal in the final and are in contention to win the FA Cup and the league.
They are now second in the table, nine points behind leaders Gunners, with a game in hand.
Pep Guardiola needs Erling Haaland in top shape to improve his side’s chances of winning the FA Cup and the Premier League.
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