Man City's CEO Discusses Why They Signed Erling Haaland And How He Will Adapt To Pep Guardiola's System

While brand-new incomings such as Marc Cucurella and Kalvin Phillips could make their way to the Etihad Stadium, no signing is set to generate the same amount of buzz as Erling Haaland’s arrival.

So much so that the general consensus amongst Manchester City fans remains that the Norwegian’s coup has felt like the most blockbuster addition made by the club since Robinho’s acquisition going back to 2008.

However, the anticipation around the youngster is unprecedented due to the fact that he is a lifelong City fan.

With his father, Alf-Inge Haaland was a former player at the club for three seasons, so the romantic element of the signing is one that has sent the supporter base into a frenzy.

Most importantly, the former Borussia Dortmund hero ends the supporters’ arduous wait for a traditional number nine.

Ferran Soriano has been speaking about Erling Haaland's move to Manchester City (Image: Man City)

With Sergio Agüero suffering an injury during the 2020/21 season, Pep Guardiola decided to employ a false nine system throughout the campaign.

This continued throughout the next season due to the club’s failure to sign Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

Also, the 21-year-old is considered to be Kylian Mbappe’s biggest competition as the youthful pairs rivalry is considered as the current generation’s version of the age-old sporting feud between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

With the Sky Blues having a potential global icon at their disposal is yet another aspect that collectively excites the fanbase.

While one can gauge why Manchester City fans are over the moon about Erling Haaland’s addition, club CEO Ferran Soriano has lifted the lid on why he is looking forward to their latest recruit donning the Sky Blue shirt.

“I have to say we are very excited. But I want to tell you, honestly, that all the football additions or signing additions are taken through a football lens - not a marketing lens, or not a celebrity lens.

"So, we think Txiki and Pep and the whole group, they think very carefully about the players that they need for the team, and this is what they sign,” he explained, as quoted by Dr. Football Podcast.

Haaland will return for pre-season very soon (Image: Alamy)

Soriano continued, “In this case, it happens to be Haaland’s profile, I think you’re right, that he’s developed his profile as a superstar, but this is not the reason why we signed him.

"We signed him because we think that he’s going to score a lot of goals and that he has the intelligence to adapt to our system. The system is very complex.

"If you see the intensity in the way that they discuss how they’re going to play, it’s very sophisticated.

"You need to be a very sophisticated player to be able to adapt to this, and we think Haaland will do. But I promise you, it’s a football decision.

"It’s not a marketing, or celebrity decision.”

Soriano’s detailed answer about the thinking that went into signing Haaland is an indication of the in-depth analysis that makes City’s recruitment the gold standard in European football.

Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Erling Haaland, Pep Guardiola

Srinivas Sadhanand

Football journalist, midfield enthusiast, human. In that order.

@notsrini_