Shaka Hislop believes one player at Manchester City who is constantly linked with an exit actually won’t leave the Etihad for at least a few more years yet.
Pep Guardiola currently has one of the best squads ever assembled at club level.
Supporters have been blessed to watch some incredible footballers strut their stuff at the Etihad Stadium, with the beautiful football they play also leading to regular silverware.
Inevitably, there is often speculation about City’s players and other clubs wanting to sign them, especially those nearing the end of their contracts.
One man who is seldom out of the transfer gossip columns is Erling Haaland, but in the eyes of Shaka Hislop, the Norwegian won’t be going anywhere any time soon – but on one condition…
Shaka Hislop adamant Erling Haaland will stay at Manchester City for three or four more years, amid Real Madrid links
Haaland has been with City since the start of the 2022/23 season and has been a revelation since coming to the club.
He has plundered 81 goals in 87 matches so far, and broken all kinds of records.
Officially, he is the second-best player in the world after narrowly missing out on the Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi, and the Norwegian superstar continues to blow supporters away with his goalscoring exploits.
But pretty much throughout his whole career, there have been transfer links to Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants are known admirers, and have long been hopeful of landing him.
But Hislop feels City fans need not worry about a move happening any time soon, assuming City aren’t hit with punishments after their charges. He said on ESPN FC: “As ever there’s continued speculation about him and his future, especially given some of the charges around Manchester City.
“But as we sit right now, I think Erling Haaland is at Manchester City for at least the next three or four years. As I said, that can change very quickly depending on any number of factors. But as if right now, I just don’t see it, until one of those things happens and tips the dominoes.”
Haaland surely staying for years
Haaland likely won’t be going anywhere in the next few years, provided nothing significant comes of the charges the club face.
Haaland admitted recently that he was very happy at City, although he did leave the door slightly ajar for a future move. But City fans are not ignorant to the fact that Haaland won’t spend the rest career at the club.
There will come a time when he wants to move on and experience something new, given his ambitious nature. And the feeling is that Real Madrid will be his next club.
But certainly for the moment, it seems more likely than not that Haaland – branded ‘frightening’ by Roy Keane after his five-goal haul against Luton Town – will be staying at City for a few years. He surely doesn’t want to be joining Real at a similar time to Kylian Mbappe, who he sees as his man rival for the Ballon d’Or.
