Why Erling Haaland Signed Over 9-Year Contract At Manchester City

Erling Haaland will be 34 by the time his new contract expires in 2034.

When news broke that Erling Haaland has extended his contract at Manchester City FC for nine-and-a-half years, the football world was surprised for different reasons.

Signing a nine-and-a-half year contract at just the age of 24, signaled that he has decided to devote his entire career to Manchester City. A four or five-year contract would have been the norm at least, but such a long term contract was big news.

Analysts have pondered why he chose to remain at City, who are clearly not at the level of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the biggest football clubs in the world.

Haaland certainly is at the level of stars featuring for both Spanish football clubs, and Barcelona was reportedly planning a summer move for the Norwegian to replace 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski, who could be in his last season at the Catalan club.

It would be reasonable if he had chosen to leave City, and he would have a legendary status, having scored over a hundred goals for the English side and won the Premier League and Champions League titles for the Cityzens.

Haaland really has nothing more to prove and has justified his time at the blue side of Manchester.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker’s decision was certainly borne out of a number of reasons that best suit his career.

Big Money Renewal

According to renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano, the details of Erling Haaland’s new contract are yet to be made public, but it is a “record salary” for Manchester City and “one of the highest contracts ever in the world of football.”

Manchester City is undoubtedly the biggest club in England at the moment, and it will be difficult for any player thriving at the club to reject a big-money contract renewal.

The club has been highly competitive in the past decade, and except for their struggles this season, City has been the biggest club in the world based on their performance on the pitch for at least the past four years. It will be extremely difficult to reject such a contract.

Ballon d’Or Chances

Haaland probably knows that a move to Barcelona would limit his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or because Spanish stalwart Lamine Yamal is currently the club’s biggest star and will be the centre of the Gala awards just like Lionel Messi in the past.

A move to Barcelona will definitely see Haaland score more goals and win titles, but he might never get to win the Ballon d’Or and will be cast in the shadow of Lamine Yamal, who is just 17 and has been tipped by his teammate Raphinha to win at least three Ballon d’Ors.

At Manchester City, Haaland is the biggest player, and if there is any City player close to winning the Ballon d’Or after Rodri, it is definitely Haaland. It would be hard to give that up for a Spanish teenager.

Pep Guardiola’s Contract Renewal

Pep Guardiola brought Erling Haaland to the club and has constantly shown his admiration for the former Red Bull Salzburg striker.

Under Guardiola, he easily adapted to the Premier League and is easily the best striker in the world at the moment.

Related: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City “not the best team in the world

Guardiola’s recent two-year contract renewal at City means Haaland’s future as the star man of the team is still secured, and Pep’s recent moves in the transfer market that is set to see Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush join the club alongside other quality signings mean the squad would be stabilized again after recent struggles; it would make no sense to leave.

City Project

Offering a player a long-term contract with a record salary means he is the centre of the club’s project.

Erling Haaland is the face of the club, and the future of the club revolves around him. New signings will be made to play for him and make him shine on the pitch. It is hard to say no to such an offer.

Manchester City will face Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Sunday, and it will be Haaland’s first game at the club since his renewal.

He is expected to continue with his goal-scoring form this season and kiss the City badge if he scores on Sunday to assure City fans of his loyalty to the club.