Manchester (UK): Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has coached a number of the best players in football including Argentine legend Lionel Messi and Poland star Robert Lewandowski during his tenures at FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Now, the Spanish tactician has another superstar talent under his wings – Norwegian striker Erling Haaland.
After seeing Haaland score a brace during his Premier League debut against West Ham United on Sunday, Guardiola couldn’t help but compare the 22-year-old’s mindset to that of Messi in his prime years.
“I was fortunate as a manager to be with Messi, and if he scored two, he wanted three,” Guardiola said. “If he scored three, he wanted four. the highest goalscorers, the strikers, they’re never satisfied. they’re always starving.”
Haaland also known by his nickname – The Terminator – is one of the best young talents in world football right now. With Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo not exactly at the peak of their respective careers, the baton will likely be handed to the Manchester City striker and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé.
The coming years may pit Haaland and Mbappé against each other and create an entirely new debate on who is the best footballer in the world.
Manchester City had signed Haaland from Borussia Dortmund over the summer. He was impressive during his debut match with the Premier League giants. With his dad, Alfie Haaland – a former Man City player – looking on from the stands, the tall Norwegian showed why he was the most well-liked property in football this summer.
With his raw athleticism and finishing ability, the 22-year-old looked like a daunting prospect already.
