Rare Footage Of A 13-Year-Old Erling Haaland Shows He Was A Goal Machine In The Making

Erling Haaland has been banging in goals from a very and footage of him in action as a 13-year-old shows he was always destined for greatness.

Haaland was born in Leeds when his dad Alf-Inge was playing there but the family moved back to Byrne, his parents' hometown, at a very early age.

Tested by his old man, Erling was involved in a number of sports ranging from handball and cross country skiing to athletics.

At the age of five, Haaland broke the standing long jump world record for his age group when he jumped a massive 1.63 metres in 2006 - an achievement that has not yet been beaten all these years later.

Five was also the age where he joined Byrne FK's academy and it was clearly that Haaland had a special talent - specifically when it came to putting the ball in the back of the net.

Image: Aftenbladet

And footage from Aftenbladet proves that when he was 13, Haaland was already a serious player who could not be contained by his opponents.

Playing in a local cup game indoors in what looks like a small-sided game, Haaland smashed in goals galore in the same way we've seen him do on the biggest stage of European football.

His first strike was blasted past the goalkeeper and nearly broke the net, before another emphatic finish arrived with his weaker right foot.

Image: PA

Then, against another team, Haaland jinks in and out of two players before smashing one in at the near post.

His final finish in the compilation was equally as brilliant and it's quite scary to see a youngster hit the ball so cleanly at that age.

He also looked visibly angry and had a constant thirst to score more - personality traits which have helped him become one of the deadliest strikers in the game.

Image: PA

Now, having scored 154 club goals in 199 games for Byrne, Molde, Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund, all eyes are on the Norwegian man mountain at Manchester City.

City have announced they have agreed in a deal in principle to sign Haaland, having activated his release clause.

Haaland's terms are a five-year deal worth £375,000-per-week, with the total cost of the transfer coming in at around £85 million with signing on bonus and agent fees factored in.

Topics: Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund, Norway, Manchester City

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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