Pep Guardiola voices Manchester City’s commitment to keeping Erling Haaland despite ongoing contract talks and speculation

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed the club’s deep admiration for striker Erling Haaland, expressing a desire for the Norwegian forward to remain with the club for a decade. The statement comes as Haaland, who recently returned after a two-month absence due to a foot injury, faces persistent rumours linking him to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Despite the ongoing talks about a new contract with the Treble winners, no official agreement has been reached, fueling speculation about Haaland’s future. Reports from Spain suggest that the 23-year-old striker is not fond of living in Manchester, intensifying rumours of a potential move to Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola addressed the ongoing speculation, emphasizing Manchester City’s desire to retain their star players. Guardiola stated, “What do you think, we don’t want Erling to stay here for one decade? Honestly. Yes, we want him to stay for a long time in this club. We are in love with him.” The manager acknowledged the honour of other significant clubs expressing interest in City’s players but emphasized that the final decision rests with the players.

Erling Haaland, born in Leeds while his father played for Leeds United, has shown a positive side to life in Manchester. In a recent interview with the club, Haaland discussed feeling settled in the North West. He highlighted the convenience for his family to visit and praised the vibes, positivity from fans, banter, and the similarity in humour between English and Norwegian people.

Haaland’s debut season for Manchester City was remarkable, with the striker scoring a record-breaking 52 goals in all competitions. Despite the intense schedule, Haaland expressed a desire to recreate the successes of the previous season, particularly in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.

While the Spanish speculation persists, Haaland’s positive sentiments toward life in Manchester, combined with Guardiola’s strong desire to retain the striker, leave the outcome of the ongoing contract talks and potential transfer to Real Madrid uncertain. Manchester City and its fans hope to see the prolific forward continue his impressive contributions to the team’s success.