Erling Haaland got Manchester City fans rather excited on Monday night as Borussia Dortmund posted a video of the striker walking out to train at the Etihad Stadium.
The 20-year-old sensation comes up against City in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night amid widespread speculation of a summer transfer.
City are one of many clubs, along with Chelsea and Manchester United, linked to the £130million-rated superstar – and Dortmund’s clip did little to cool those rumours.
Haaland may well have visited Man City as a child, when his father, Alf-Inge, played for the club in the days of Maine Road.
But on what was probably his first trip to the Etihad, Haaland and Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham were filmed walking down the tunnel and posing for photographs – and the Norwegian can be heard saying, ‘Beautiful, huh?’
Of course, Haaland might’ve been referring to the photographer’s snap of him alongside Bellingham, but that’s certainly not how eager City fans on Twitter interpreted it, as the striker emerged on the Etihad turf looking rather impressed.
While City boss Pep Guardiola insists the club won’t spend big to replace departing legend Sergio Aguero this summer, the Spaniard hinted at a potential move for Haaland in the future.
Speaking ahead of the Champions League showdown, he said: “So far the club has decided not to spend close to £100m for a player, or more than £100m on a player.
“Maybe in the future it is going to happen if they decide it is necessary to improve the team for the next five, 10 years, for many reasons, but so far the club, the organisation, the CEO, the sporting director decided not to do it.”
Haaland, 20, has scored 39 goals for club and country this season including 10 in six Champions League appearances.
Guardiola said of his qualities: “The only thing I can say is that, with his age, he is an exceptional striker. The numbers speak for themselves and he’s a fantastic player – that’s all.
“To score that number of goals at his age is not easy to find. When that happens it’s because he can score with the right, the left, the counter-attacks, in the box.
“He’s a fantastic striker, everyone knows it. A blind guy would realise he’s a good striker. It’s not necessary to be a manager to realise it.”