Haaland defiant as Oasis get caught up in City cheating scandal
Who will Erling Haaland play his club football for next?
That simple question is one of the hottest talking points in world sport after the Premier League found Manchester City guilty of arranging “sham” contracts and deliberately distorting their finances in a seismic nine-year cheating scandal.
Haaland, the world’s best striker and one of the planet’s most famous men, is contracted to City until 2034.
City have denied all charges and are appealing the findings.
But the prospect of devastating punishments - including possible relegation or crippling points deductions - have bookmakers tipping Haaland to leave the crisis-riddled club sooner rather than later.
Real Madrid - who else? - are the bookmakers’ favourites to be Haaland’s next home, ahead of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Arsenal.
But Haaland insisted it was business as usual after helping fire top-of-the-table City to a 3-0 win over Liverpool with yet another goal at an emotionally charged Anfield on Monday (AEDT).
“Another game, another day at the office,” the giant Norwegian told Stan Sport.
“Still plenty of games left to play, but it’s always special to come to Anfield and especially to win here. Winning 3-0 at Anfield is not something you do every year, so it’s a special moment and amazing feeling.”
Haaland’s father, Alfie, is a former City player, and he joined the club’s defiant fans to cheer on his son from the stands in Liverpool.
He was joined by Oasis star Noel Gallagher - a huge City supporter - while Liverpool fans mocked the iconic band with cheeky shirts and banners.
“(What’s The Story) Tainted Glory?” one read, a riff on their most famous album.
Before kickoff at Anfield, Stan Sport got among the punters to ask for their views on what City’s punishment should be.
A Liverpool fan speaks to Stan Sport. Stan
Manchester City fan and musician Noel Gallagher at the game. Getty
Not surprisingly, there was little sympathy.
“I’d relegate them down to the northwest counties, far to the bottom,” one opined.
“They should be playing Abbey Hay, Maine Road… the ninth tier of English football.”
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