Erling Haaland told Khaldoon Al Mubarak he was going to win the Champions League for Manchester City when he signed for the club.
City beat off a number of top European clubs including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to land Haaland from Dortmund last summer, tempting him to the Etihad with the offer of leading the line all season and giving them the extra edge in a competition that he loved. It has already paid off in spectacular fashion, with Haaland scoring 52 goals in all competitions as the team won a historic Treble that included their first Champions League.
City's chairman speaks to all new signings to welcome them to the club, but was particularly taken aback by his conversation with Haaland last summer as the 22-year-old told him bluntly what he was going to do for the club. Twelve months later, the Norwegian has already made good on his word.
"This was, I think, my first conversation post him signing the contract. But what amazed me about Erling is the confidence," said Al Mubarak.
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"He's got something special, confidence with respect. And to be having that conversation post signing your contract with your chairman and saying at the end of that conversation, ‘Mr. Chairman, I'm going to win the Champions League for you. I'm here to win the Champions League for Manchester City and we're going to win it’ a year ago is really a testament to the greatness of this player.
"To show you where Erling is going, this is the beginning. And the scary part, this is just the beginning for him.”
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