Maybe there was an inevitability for Erling Haaland and Manchester City. After all, there are still employees working at the club who held the Norwegian in their arms when he was a baby.
The son of their player, Alfie. The son who grew up to be the scariest young striker in world football. It is safe to say that the staff will not pick him up when he arrives at Etihad Stadium.
Haaland was born in England, a month after his father signed with City almost 22 years ago.
Manchester City will finally announce the arrival of Erling Haaland (above) later this week
City’s relationship with his father Alf-Inge (right), a former Sky Blues player, is considered key.
Growing up, he was portrayed in a City jersey and attended matches – including Champions League nights and Wembley Cup finals.
They always talk passionately about the Haalands around the City.
There was caution about their interest in a player who scored more goals, 85 than he had started, 78, in two and a half years at Borussia Dortmund.
City knew there was a rivalry with Real Madrid and at one stage earlier this year the fear was that Haaland preferred Spain.
It was a direct competition between the two clubs that served these monumental two European semi-final matches.
Unlike last week, City triumphed. Even Real can’t come back from here at the last minute.
Haaland wondered about La Liga and whether it could suit him better at this stage of his career – the feeling that the Premier League, which is more demanding on a weekly basis, can wait.
Haaland was born in Leeds, was photographed in a City shirt and attended several of their matches.
They always talk passionately about the Haalands family around the Etihad Stadium.
In the end, Karim Benzema’s evergreen supremacy was a factor in his decision to avoid Real. In City, he will be the main man. The Bernabeu is for another day and the acceptance around the game is that Real will be his destination in the future.
But City took the opportunity to work quietly in the background – negotiating with Haaland Snr and Rafaela Pimenta for months.
The highly respected Mino Raiola, who was Haaland’s chief agent, died last month. Pimenta has worked with Rayola for almost two decades.
Sportsmail has learned that the deal with the Haaland team, which will allow it to earn around £ 400,000 a week, including an entry bonus, was finalized last week.
Once the deal of the Norwegian star is confirmed, the search for City for the successor of Sergio Aguero will finally end.
The revival of Karim Benzema at Real Madrid is one of the reasons why Haaland rejected the Spanish grandmaster
And that was a long one, prolonged by the doomed persecution of Harry Kane. Others, such as Darwin Nunes of Benfica, were considered, but they held fast to Haaland.
Cristiano Ronaldo threw a big wrench at work last August. Offered to them, City considered making a deal. Surely the board thought it made sense: guaranteed goals and a marketing dream.
Pep Guardiola seriously considered the prospect, City talked to agent Jorge Mendes, but the manager did not see how it works. Instead, Ronaldo prevented Manchester United from staying in the middle of the table.
However, Guardiola really wanted number 9. They learned to play without one for most of the season – and lastly, given that Aguero spent part of it injured.
Although he boasts a huge attacking quality, Guardiola would consider another Premier League title without a natural striker with 20 goals as one of his best achievements if City manages to do the job.
The Norwegian will be the first natural number 9 of the club after the Argentine Sergio Aguero (pictured)
Rahim Stirling is their top scorer at 12. City somewhat surprisingly surpassed Liverpool’s goal when they beat Newcastle United 5-0 on Sunday.
Haaland shakes them. There is a certain brilliance in this transfer and an argument that Haaland is the first global phenomenon of the City at the point of arrival after Robinho in the first 24 hours of the owner.
Those greats who have deviated from the language of the last few years – Kevin De Bruyne is a prime example – have signed with more to prove even without this intense noise.
Dortmund have allowed Haaland leave this week to settle their personal affairs before Saturday’s final game of the season against Hertha Berlin.
Haaland wants to say goodbye to the Yellow Wall before his next adventure – actually back to where it all began.
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