Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland learning Spanish
AS has learned that the Real Madrid target is receiving Spanish classes. Man City say it is to aid his working relationship with Pep Guardiola.
Diario AS has learned that Real Madrid-linked Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland, who holidayed in Marbella this summer and is a fan of Spain, is taking Spanish classes.
Several Spanish-speaking coaches, players at Man City
At City, the argument is that he is learning the language to aid his working relationship with head coach Pep Guardiola, who leads a backroom team made up entirely of Spanish speakers.
City also have a number of players who are either native Spanish speakers or know the language: Stefano Ortega, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Gómez, Rodri, Julián Álvarez Rubén Dias, João Cancelo and Bernardo Silva.
The dressing room at the Etihad Stadium is a small ‘Spanish society’, so it is not surprising that Haaland is one of the players receiving classes in español. However, what makes him a stand-out student is that, according to those who know the Norwegian international, he began lessons before joining City.
Haaland earning praise for humility
This has helped Haaland to integrate seamlessly into the City squad, netting 23 goals in his first 17 games for the Premier League champions. Above and beyond his scoring record, what has most caught the attention within the club is his humility.
“He’s very down to earth - and that’s the most important thing in a person,” City assistant Enzo Maresca told AS. “Above all in a 20-year-old lad who is arguably the best striker in the world right now. He’s very humble and works very hard.”
Haaland recovering from ankle injury
Despite his extraordinary start to the campaign, injuries have continued to stalk Haaland, who is suffering from a damaged ankle ligament. “He is still not perfect,” Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday, ahead of City’s Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea on Wednesday.
“We will see tomorrow and Saturday [before facing Brentford]. He is getting better. The main thing is the bone was not broken – the ligament is damaged a little bit, so he’s still not perfect right now.”
Guardiola did not offer a clear timeline on Haaland’s recovery - “a week, ten days, anything can happen” - so the player is doubtful for City’s last two games before the seven-week World Cup break.
As Norway have not qualified for the tournament, it is a period that will allow the striker to rest. It has not yet been confirmed whether or not he will join City’s warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi.