Pep Guardiola was so stunned when learning the length of Erling Haaland’s record new nine-and-a-half year contract that he asked Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City’s sporting director, to repeat himself.
The 24-year-old’s fresh terms ties him to the champions until 2034 and will earn him a basic salary of around £500,000 a-week. It is the longest agreed by a player in domestic competition.
Guardiola does not get involved in contract negotiations so was asked shortly after Haaland’s deal was announced how he reacted to the news from Begiristain. “I said: ‘Can you repeat?’ And he said to me. ‘[10].’ I said: ‘Sure?’ And he said: ‘Yes.’ So, good news. That means a lot.”
Halaand has proved a phenomenon at City, scoring 111 goals in only 125 games since signing from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022. Guardiola was asked if the length of the Norwegian’s contract was to ensure he cannot leave the club in his prime years for no fee.
Last summer, Kylian Mbappé signed for Real Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain at the age of 25.
“I don’t know the reason,” said Guardiola. “I didn’t ask. Because I think what happened in this situation, he feels it. He feels that it’s the best for me, my career, playing in this club. It’s no more difficult than that. And of course, he’s a special player.
“To find a player like Erling is so difficult. To find strikers at that level, once we have it, why don’t make the effort to keep him? The club made a huge effort to have him.”
“It’s the trust for the club [in] Erling. Because you never know what can happen in the next year. But the club knows perfectly how professional he is. His commitment in every single game and every single day to show his talent. And of course for him, because in 10 years, you never know what’s going to happen – it’s a long time.”
“I am super happy,” said Haaland, who was previously contracted at City until 2027. “I am proud. It is difficult to put into words because it is a big moment. I am happy and that is the right word to use. I am looking forward to staying here for a long time. In the end, speaking with the people I spoke with, the hunger and the support that I have been getting for the last couple of years from the board, from the bosses and from Pep, it was an easy decision. I am delighted.”
Haaland has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League, the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup at City. He stated a desire for more and to keep improving.
“I am going to stay for a long time,” Haaland said. “Now I can fully focus on getting better because I am going to stay here for such a long time. Full focus on performing and getting better to give all of the fans what they want.
“It has gone really quick. It feels like I signed a moment ago. It has been going really quick and that is a good thing. It means I am enjoying it.”
“For two and a half years as a City player I have been winning loads of trophies, playing loads of good football, having so many great moments together with the whole club and with the fans,” he added. “I still remember the rainy parade [after the 2023 treble] which was maybe the biggest and best moment because it was a typical Manchester parade. It has been amazing and like a dream in this two-and a-half years.”
Haaland’s decision is a considerable boost for City during what is proving to be a difficult season for them. Guardiola’s side are sixth with 35 points, 12 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, having played a game more. They travel to Ipswich on Sunday.
The club are defending themselves against more than 100 charges brought by the Premier League. City deny all allegations. If the champions are found guilty then, depending on the severity of the verdict, one potential sanction is demotion from the top division.– Guardian
