A current Manchester City star has claimed that Erling Haaland isn’t the best finisher in world football, despite the Norwegian having already scored 15 club goals this season.
Some would argue that Haaland is the best finisher in world football, and there’s even a school of thought that the Manchester City striker could be the best finisher to have ever graced the Premier League.
Since arriving at City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, the marksman has registered 139 goals in 157 appearances, helping Pep Guardiola’s team win six trophies – two Premier Leagues, one FA Cup, one Community Shield, one Champions League, and one Super Cup.
The Norway international’s most recent strike in City’s 2-0 Champions League win against Villarreal on Tuesday marked the 12th game in which Haaland has scored this term.
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Aside from his exploits with City, the 25-year-old has also been in prolific form for Norway, having scored 51 goals in 46 caps for the Scandinavian nation.
But is he the best finisher in world football?
According to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike, who spoke to ESPN, Haaland is exactly that.
“Haaland is clinical,” Ekitike said recently.
“Obviously, like his aggressiveness, but also the calm he has in front of the goal.”
And despite receiving praise from the Liverpool forward, Haaland’s own teammate claimed that the 25-year-old wasn’t even the best finisher he had played with in his career.
Man City’s third-choice goalkeeper, Marcus Bettinelli, made the claim during an appearance on the ‘Fozcast’ hosted by former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster.
When discussing Haaland’s exploits in front of goal, the 33-year-old said: “He’s a big boy… he’s just good at knowing where to put his body. I’ve just never seen anything like it in that sense.
“In terms of finishing… I don’t think he gets enough credit. People just think he’s this brute of a guy that scores goals… but he can score any type of goal.”
And despite dishing out huge praise for his City teammate, Bettinelli then claimed: “I would say Harry Kane is probably the best finisher I’ve worked with… but Erling can score every single goal.”
Bettinelli joined City from Chelsea in the summer of 2025 and will provide back-up to Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford at the Etihad.
According to Capology, the third-choice ‘keeper earns a base salary of £35,000 per week, which can rise to around £43,750 if bonuses are achieved.
Bettinelli’s last competitive appearance came for Chelsea in a 5-1 FA Cup third round victory over Chesterfield in January 2022.
Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool
Luke Davies