17 hours ago
6
Erling Haaland has discussed his future at Manchester City and his happiness with their plans going forward, while also addressing Pep Guardiola's contract extension
Luke Thrower Trends Writer and Will Jenkins 10:42, 10 Dec 2025
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has revealed he is fully committed to the club's future vision following discussions with senior figures, whilst also suggesting he anticipated Pep Guardiola would remain at the helm for the foreseeable future. The Norwegian has been sensational in the Premier League since arriving in 2022, sparking speculation about his long-term prospects.
Real Madrid have been linked with a potential move for Haaland, who penned a contract extension until 2034 with Man City earlier this year. The fresh terms place him amongst the Premier League's top earners, and despite reported attention from other clubs, his commitment appears firmly with the Etihad outfit.
On The Rest Is Football podcast, he commented: "Exactly, and that's the reason that I also signed it because of conversations that I've had with the bosses and also the plan in the next years, and that was something I wanted to be a part of. And yeah, I'm calm, I'm focused, and I'm really happy here, so it's a really good place to be for development and also in the end, England, it's a football country, and I think it's the best place to play football."
The prolific striker has already notched 20 goals this campaign across all competitions, maintaining his remarkable form as Man City chase another Premier League crown. It offers Guardiola yet another opportunity to demonstrate his tactical brilliance in pursuit of silverware, even when his side aren't considered favourites.
The exact duration of the 54 year old's stay at the Etihad Stadium remains uncertain, though his most recent contract extension runs until 2027. For Haaland, working under Guardiola was appealing, but he emphasised his commitment to being a long-term fixture at City.
Discussing the manager's future, he said: "I mean, he signed a new contract, was it before or after me? I'm not sure. But I knew he was staying for another year or another year and a half, with his contract right now.
"But most of the conversations were with his bosses and my boss as well, because I remember my father said when I was really, not young, but like 10 years ago, he said like, 'Never go to a club because of the manager', which sometimes can be difficult. But also, you never know what's going to happen in the modern world.
"But again, Pep was a big reason why I came to City, of course, to work with him and to be able to experience him and his special ways and his hard work and all of these things. So it's kind of a mix there."
The futures of both Guardiola and Haaland will be regarded as crucial matters for City in the years ahead. Both have played vital roles in the club's recent achievements, whether in the Premier League, Champions League, or domestic cup competitions.
Haaland has already notched up 144 goals in 166 matches for the club, displaying ruthless form throughout his spell there. Across three years, he's claimed six trophies alongside countless personal honours, establishing himself as one of the world's elite players during that period.
Securing a new contract for Haaland was a top priority for City, and with that agreement now signed through to 2034, it brings the additional benefit that any release clauses contained in his initial deal have been removed, according to The Athletic. That provides the club with considerable reassurance on that matter, though less certainty exists regarding the managerial situation.
Guardiola has been linked with a possible departure for several years now, yet the pattern of extending his contract has persisted. His most recent agreement should keep him at the club until 2027, although it remains uncertain how keen he is to remain at the Etihad Stadium after that date.
The 54 year old has secured 18 trophies during his tenure with City, and that tally could increase further before the current season concludes. "I have two more years, maybe I'll extend two more years. So the question is when I will stop in this year or in two years, or in four years, I will take a break. But now I feel fine, I would say," he told Men in Blazers earlier this year about his future.
"The team is giving me good vibes, starting from the [Club] World Cup in the United States. There we created something. I saw something that I liked, that I missed last season.
"The training sessions, the body language, the details, arriving on time, the (running) backwards, how we defend throw-ins, stupid things that you realise the team is there. And that will help us to be, I think, more consistent than last season."
City appear to be genuine title challengers once more this campaign, displaying greater reliability, and the squad are demonstrating exactly why they're back amongst the frontrunners.
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester City coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Talking City podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.
English (US) ·