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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Alex Brotherton

Erling Haaland's Man City encounter with Dortmund was key to transfer decision

Erling Haaland was presented as a Manchester City player at a presentation event at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, a moment Blues will have been dreaming of ever since last summer.

Back in May City won a tightly-fought contest for Haaland 's signature, after months of speculation that Spanish giants Real Madrid were the club in pole position to sign the 21-year-old striker.

Both clubs had the resources to activate the £51m release clause in Haaland's Borussia Dortmund contract, but in the end Haaland chose to join the club he has supported since childhood, and where his father played 20 years ago.

READ MORE: Man City transfer unveiling event suggests something special is happening

Haaland - who by scoring 83 goals in 87 appearances for Borussia Dortmund established himself as one of the best strikers in the world - spent Sunday afternoon greeting City fans, dancing along to chants from the crowd and answering plenty of questions.

Speaking to journalists after the presentation, the Norway international revealed what attracted him to City. It turns out that a previous encounter - at a time when City were more interested in signing Harry Kane - played a significant role.

"I played against them in Champions League last year," Haaland said, "you see them on TV and when you meet it's completely different. I didn't touch the ball for 25 minutes, [I was like] 'please Gundogan, stop playing tiki-taka!' It's a different level how they approach the game, create chances. That's what I wanted to be a part of."

For months and months it seemed that Real Madrid would win the race to sign Haaland - so what made him turn Los Blancos down for City?

"I just had the feeling in my stomach and the feeling, the way they play, everything, I had the feeling for City.

"I watched City ever since Pep [Guardiola] took over in 2016, I know exactly how they play, I know a lot about everything. That's the most important thing. I knew a lot of things before I spoke to him."

The influence that Pep Guardiola has had at City can never be overstated. More than just the promise of winning trophies, the style of play that he has implemented at the club, as well as his ability to improve players, is something that elite players find too hard to turn down. Haaland is the latest star to find that out.

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