Erling Haaland vowed to win the Champions League during their initial meeting after he joined the club, according to Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
In his first season in Manchester, Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 games after moving from Borussia Dortmund to City in the summer of 2022.
The 22-year-old kept his promise as City won the treble in 2022–23, becoming the first team in club history to win the Champions League with a 1-0 triumph over Inter Milan.
Al Mubarak remarked in his yearly interview with the team: “So this was, I believe, my first chat after he signed the deal. I was most struck by Erling’s confidence, though. He possesses a unique combination of assurance and deference.
“And to have that conversation with your chairman after signing your contract, and to conclude that conversation by saying, “Mr Chairman, I’m going to win the Champions League for you. It really is a credit to this player’s greatness that he said, “I’m here to win the Champions League for Manchester City and we’re going to win it,” a year ago.
“And this is the start to show you where Erling is going. The frightening part is that this is only the beginning for him.
Following a four-year inquiry, the Premier League charged Manchester City for violating the league’s financial rules in February of the 2022–23 season.
A separate committee has been tasked with investigating claims that the defending champions violated a number of financial regulations between the 2009–10 and 2017–18 seasons.
The club was “surprised” by the alleged violations, according to a City statement from February, and it “welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.”
Al Mubarak added that he was unable to discuss the alleged infractions for legal reasons but vowed to offer “strong” and “blunt” opinions after the hearings were over.
The City chairman continued, “So obviously I can’t talk about them unfortunately for legal reasons.” “And I always comment after,” I usually say, “so I believe we’re going through, we’re going through the legal procedure.
“We’ll have a talk after these proceedings, which will last however long they do. I’ll offer you my honest opinions, I make that commitment. Although I have extremely strong opinions on that, I must be regrettably restrained today.