Manchester City striker Erling Haaland revealed that his girlfriend Isabel said she's tired of watching football all the time after he put on Man Utd vs West Ham during dinner
Erling Haaland of Manchester City with his girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen
Erling Haaland of Manchester City with his girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen
Erling Haaland has admitted he's a proper football fanatic in his downtime, though his girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen seems to have had enough of the sport taking over their relationship. The striker opened up about his passion for the game during a chat with Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast, recalling how he tuned into Manchester United's 1-1 draw with West Ham last Thursday.
When quizzed about his viewing habits, the 25-year-old said: "Yeah, I'm a football fan, so I watch all kinds of football.
"Actually, yesterday, we were eating dinner, and I checked if there were any games. Man Utd, West Ham is playing. Let's put it on. My missus said, 'I'm so sick of football. We watch it all the time.' And I'm like, 'Yeah, that's the reason why we are sitting here.'"
The revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into Haaland's world away from his goal-scoring exploits for Manchester City. Haaland is currently dating 21-year-old Isabel, with the couple first crossing paths back in Norway when the striker was playing for Bryne FK – his maiden club.
It's rather revealing that Haaland's own partner complained about football being on 'all the time', highlighting just how consumed the striker is by the beautiful game.
Whilst this might appear typical for a professional footballer, that's not necessarily the reality, as some players treat it purely as work and don't maintain such keen interest.
Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United look dejected after the draw in the Premier League against West Ham
Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham last Thursday night
Arsenal's Ben White serves as perhaps the most striking example, with the Premier League star admitting that he doesn't particularly care for watching the sport and staying abreast of the stories surrounding it.
Haaland, meanwhile, clearly does and that may well contribute to the obsession he harbours with netting goals and smashing records at every opportunity.
"This is what it's like if you play with Messi or Ronaldo, his influence is so big," said Pep Guardiola last month when he was talking about the quality of Haaland.
Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland
Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland.(Image: PA)
"You see the numbers of that guy? Of course he's that level. Messi and Ronaldo have done it for 15 years, but this is the level. The first goal, the way he shoots the ball, it's like, 'I am going to score.'
"He has that hunger. It's top. I said how incredibly coachable and manageable he is. I am tough sometimes with Haaland, but he is open-minded. He lives for the goals and sometimes the pressure cannot sustain 90 minutes, but that's normal."
With 144 goals to his name in 166 City appearances so far, Haaland must be keenly aware of the records that lie ahead of him, having become so attuned to the narratives of football and the Premier League.
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