Erling Haaland told he will need to 'change' to succeed at Manchester City
- Planet Sport writer
- 25 May 2022
Norwegian star backed to succeed but warned he will need to adapt to Man City's system.
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano says Erling Haaland will have to 'change' in order to succeed at the Premier League champions.
City won the race to sign the brilliant 21-year-old from Borussia Dortmund this summer, snapping him up after activating the £51million release clause in his contract.
Haaland has been prolific in Germany and will fill the void left by Sergio Aguero, who left last summer before retiring due to a heart condition.
However, while the signing looks a perfect fit on paper, Soriano has warned fans to expect a period of adjustment as the Norwegian learns how to fit into Pep Guardiola's system.
"We are sure Haaland will work at City," Soriano told Catalan radio station RAC1.
"There will be some time to adapt and patience is needed, but the physical, technical, talent and mentality he has, we are sure he will succeed. He will have to change the way he plays a bit to adapt to our style and system.
"We are evolving to a time when the big players can choose, and Haaland has chosen us.
"You have seen the transfer figures, and they are very reasonable. The salary we are paying him is what we can afford and what he is entitled to.
"Our focus is on football, on playing well and winning, rather than on star players. And we lacked a centre forward.
"We had someone spectacular like Agüero, we lost him [last summer] because of his age, and we have spent more than a year looking for a replacement and Haaland is it. We will introduce him soon."
Man City have also been linked with a move for Leeds United and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who Guardiola is believed to consider an ideal replacement for Fernandinho.
