Erling Haaland snaps back over questions on Man City charges

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Erling Haaland says he is “incredibly happy” at Manchester City, insisting his focus remains on performing rather than potential sanctions against the club.

City have launched an appeal having been found guilty of more than 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. If the verdict stands, the club could be subjected to heavy sanctions, including huge points deductions or demotion.

Haaland addressed the case following Norway’s 3-1 Nations League win over Wales in Oslo on Saturday night, where he registered his 66th goal in 60 international appearances.

“This is a question I struggle to answer, because it’s a legal battle between the Premier League and Manchester City,” Haaland told Norwegian broadcaster TV2.

“Am I supposed to answer that? I don’t really know. It’s a difficult question to answer when I don’t know that much about it.

“To be completely honest, I’m focused on trying to perform for Manchester City. A club I signed a five-year deal with in 2022, and a new nine-and-a-half-year deal in late 2024.

“I think that says everything about the matter. I’m a City player and I’m incredibly happy there.”

Asked if the situation affects his City future, Haaland replied: “I understand that you want a little headline here, but as I said I signed a long-term contract in 2024.

“I’d say I made a pretty good choice by joining City in 2022. We can all agree on that.

“I won’t say it myself, but look at the trophies I’ve won and how I’ve developed on and off the pitch.

“I’m standing here after winning an international 3-1. Things aren’t going so well in the Premier League, but we’ll try to turn that around against Fulham (on Saturday).”

City maintain they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to support their case, despite being found guilty by an independent commission in September.

The commission’s damning findings included breaches relating to the concealment of funding worth more than £830million over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.

Haaland said the period under investigation happened before he joined City, and in the interview he painstakingly pointed out each stage of his football journey during that time.

He also name checked fellow Norwegian players Abdisalam Ibrahim, Martin Samuelsen, Omar Elabdellaoui and Kjetil Haug, who spent time at City during that era.

Haaland said: “The investigation covered 2009-2018. I assume the answers will come.

“I don’t know when. I haven’t read much about it.”