Erling Haaland Reveals Reason For Real Madrid Snub During Manchester City Interview

Erling Haaland has revealed why he chose to move to the Premier League, despite fierce interest from Spanish clubs.

Manchester City completed the signing of the 21 year-old forward for £51 million last month, with the Norwegian signing a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Haaland, who scored 86 goals in 89 matches for Borussia Dortmund, had been wanted by a number of clubs across Europe this summer, with the Sky Blues beating the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich to the strikers signature.

The prolific goalscorer joins the club his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, made 47 appearances for between 2000 and 2002, and replaces all-time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero, 12 months after the Argentine departed the club.

Erling Haaland 💙 Sergio Aguero. pic.twitter.com/d9iMUHxEkg

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) July 10, 2022

City and Real Madrid, who met in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals last season, had been the front-runners to sign the Norway international, with the Premier League Champions signing Haaland over the La Liga title winners.

The 21 year-old is set to begin pre-season training with Pep Guardiola's squad on Monday, though ahead of beginning life at the Etihad Stadium, the Blues' summer signing has revealed why he chose to move to Man City, and snub La Liga for the English top-flight.

Speaking at a fan event on Sunday, Haaland said: "I just had the feeling in my stomach and the feeling, the way they play, everything, I had the feeling for Man City."

Haaland was one of three summer signings to be unveiled at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with striker Julian Alvarez and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega also present at the event.

Kalvin Phillips, who recently completed a £42 million transfer from Leeds United was absent due to illness, as City supporters welcomed three of the Sky Blues' newest recruits.

Home. 😄😄😄 pic.twitter.com/F6pZkXVPq5

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) July 10, 2022

Pep Guardiola's side are set to travel to the USA later this month for pre-season friendlies against Club America and Bayern Munich - the latter being an opponent City's new number nine knows a lot about.

City are then scheduled to face Liverpool in the FA Community Shield at the King Power Stadium at the end of July, before starting their latest Premier League title defence away to West Ham United at the London Stadium in August.

The Blues are then due to face newly promoted Bournemouth at the Etihad, a fixture which will hopefully see Haaland make his home debut.

Haaland will grace the pitch with the number nine on his back, after the former Dortmund striker inherited the famous shirt from Gabriel Jesus, who completed a £45 million transfer to Arsenal earlier this summer.

Looking good, @ErlingHaaland! 🇳🇴9⃣ pic.twitter.com/d4wc3LABGj

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) July 9, 2022

Jesus isn't the only high profile departure from Guardiola's title winning squad, after Fernandinho returned to his native Brazil and Raheem Sterling closed in on a move to Chelsea.