Mark Goldbridge has claimed that Manchester City would be top of the Premier League if they had kept Gabriel Jesus and had not signed Erling Haaland.
Haaland arrived at the defending Premier League champions last summer after City activated his £51.2m release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract.
The 22-year-old Norwegian striker, who is under contract with City until 2027, has been in stunning goalscoring form in his debut season in England.
Haaland is the clear frontrunner for the Premier League Golden Boot, with the former Dortmund star scoring an incredible 25 times in 20 appearances.
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The Norway international’s arrival at City also marked the departure of 25-year-old striker Jesus, who completed a stunning £45m move to Arsenal last summer.
Jesus played a crucial part in Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s plans this season before he picked up a knee injury in Brazil’s 1-0 defeat to Cameroon at the 2022 World Cup.
Manchester United fan presenter Goldbridge believes that the “Haaland experiment” has worked for the former Dortmund striker and not for City.
The talkSPORT pundit also made a bold claim that City manager Pep Guardiola would have been better off with Jesus over Haaland.
“I actually think if Jesus was still at Man City and Haaland was still at Dortmund, Man City would be at [the] top of the league. I really do,” Goldbridge said.
“Well, for one reason Jesus wouldn’t be at Arsenal, but for another reason I just think they know the way they’re playing.
“So look, the Haaland experiment is working for Haaland but is it working for Manchester City?
“We saw this at Old Trafford with Manchester United. We dealt with Man City perfectly.
“Haaland never got a touch. He never got a touch and City were left trying to do things from out wide.
“And is that not what City have had to do today? Haaland’s not really had a touch.”
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Topics: Erling Haaland, Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City, Premier League, England, Football, Mark Goldbridge
Adnan Riaz