New Manchester City signing Erling Haaland has always craved a move to the club, according to former academy youngster Colin Rosler, son of club hero Uwe.
The pair first met while playing for Norway’s Under-15s and struck up a good friendship given their fathers' Maine Road connection. Alfie Haaland featured for City between 2000 and 2003 while Uwe Rosler played more than 150 times for the Blues from 1994 to 1998.
Both sons had the desire to follow in their dads' footsteps from an early age and turn out for the club in their own careers. Rosler, who now plays for Lillestrom, featured for City's Under-23s but failed to make his senior debut before moving to Dutch side NAC Breda.
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Meanwhile, Haaland has just arrived at the Etihad in a £51m deal and is set to walk out in sky blue for the first time in pre-season next month. Speaking to club media, Rosler recalled how Haaland had always wanted to play for City.
“When we first met, one of the first things we spoke about was City,” he said. "We obviously both had that connection of our dads playing for the club, though a few years apart, plus the fact we’d both been City fans from an early age. He’s always been a Blue and it was his dream to one day play for City.”
Rosler said Haaland and his dad once came to watch him play in a UEFA Youth League game and he reiterated his desire to play for City.
Rosler added: “He was sat next to my mum and his dad Alfie was there and while he was watching, he said, ‘I want to come and play for this club’. He’s always had that drive and dream to one day play for City and follow in his dad’s footsteps.
"He’s followed City very closely and was aware of my dad’s time at the club and obviously his dad’s too, but he knows a lot of the history and what Manchester City is about.”
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