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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has chosen to change the name on the back of his shirt with the Norwegian national team
Erling Haaland has changed the name on the back of his Norway shirt - but won't be making any alterations to the Manchester City kit.
Ahead of Norway's upcoming fixtures, it has been announced the City's No.9 will now wear Braut Haaland on the back of his shirt for the national team. That is a change for the player, although it is common in Norway to carry the surnames of both the mother and father of each player.
Haaland's mother, Gry Marita Braut, is a former heptathlete who the footballer has credited with his speed and athleticism. Norway play Finland on September 4 and Moldova on September 9, where the shirt could get its first airings.
It will not be seen on the back of any City shirt though, with Haaland taking the decision to leave that as it has been since he first signed for the club in 2022. He has since signed a contract extension that keeps him at the Etihad until 2034, and become one of the leaders in the dressing room.
As well as a successful season with City, Haaland is also hoping to help his national team to qualify for a World Cup for the first time in his lifetime. At the halfway stage of their group, Norway have maximum points from their four games and have three home games remaining with Moldova, Israel and Estonia up before the finish their campaign in Italy.
In addition to Haaland, Norway can boast fellow City players Oscar Bobb and Sverre Nypan as well as Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard and RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa. They are hoping to take their country to the 2026 World Cup, leading Norway to a major tournament for the first time in a generation.
Haaland also has work to do at City, where the team are looking to pick standards up again after a disappointing year. The 25-year-old managed 31 goals in the regular season and also netted at the Club World Cup but by his own admission he could have done better.
He looked sharp with two goals in a win at Wolves on the opening day of the Premier League campaign but was kept quiet by Spurs on Saturday as Thomas Frank's side inflicted a home defeat on the Blues.
After a trip to Brighton this weekend, Haaland will return from the international break with matches against United at home and Arsenal away as City look to get their season motoring.
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