Erling Haaland has seen his summer switch to Manchester City confirmed and the Norwegian international will make the move to the Etihad following the conclusion of this season to the tune of £51.1million.
While he may be bound to the blue half of the city, Haaland has close relations with a prominent figure representing the red half in Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The pair worked together at Molde when the Red Devils favourite was manager while Haaland was looking to cut his teeth in the game.
Though his rise to becoming one of the game's most lethal marksmen has been meteoric, to those closest to him it has hardly come as a surprise. The 21-year-old has seemingly always been destined for greatness, with Solskjaer waxing lyrical over Haaland long after their working relationship had ended.
Speaking in February of last year while still in charge of City's rivals, Solskjaer claimed he always had high hopes for the Leeds-born striker. "It is clear that Erling is going to have a fantastic career," the United boss told VG in February 2021. "I follow Erling. I have always said that. Was it 18 months we had together or something like that?
"Almost two years, perhaps. A fantastic time. He will surely have a super career both for Norway and his club. He is doing incredibly well for Dortmund. We will see where he ends up. As a Norwegian and someone who has worked with him, it is of course great that he is doing so well.
"We will do our best to become a better team and he will do his best to be a better player, but where will he end up? I do not want to say anything apart from wishing him all the best. The choice he makes is up to him."
Solskjaer is not the only one with lofty expectations for Haaland, with former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher insisting he could be the next in line for the Ballon d'Or throne that has so often been occupied by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years.
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"He's a brilliant signing, not just for Man City but for the Premier League," the Anfield favourite insisted. "He and [Kylian] Mbappe feel like the next two superstars who have already eclipsed Ronaldo and Messi and you're just delighted he's in the Premier League.
"Normally those types of players in the past have gone to Real Madrid or Barcelona, but I feel like now the Premier League is the strongest league. Just look at how we're doing in the Champions League. I think it's a great signing for City and for the Premier League also."
City are on course to secure a fourth league title in five seasons as they sit top of the Premier League on goal difference with three games left to play. Pep Guardiola's side boast a game in hand over challengers Liverpool and could even have the race won before the final day of the campaign.
Adding Haaland into that mix, a side already so well-versed in winning is sure to be enough to strike fear into the hearts of opposition managers and players alike.
