The Norwegian star is eager to forge out a career that’s even better than his dad’s
Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland is determined to do even better than his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, who played for the likes of Leeds United and Manchester City nearly two decades ago.
At the age of 19, Haaland became just the second player to score ten or more Champions League goals as a teenager after his decisive double against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Having only made his Dortmund debut in January, the teenager striker has already scored 11 goals from his first seven appearances for his new club.
Haaland looks poised for a bright future in the game and has always had his sights set firmly on replicating the career his father was able to forge.
“My father has been a big role model for me. I always said to myself I want to become a professional football player at a high level, and that’s what I said my whole life,” Haaland told Bundesliga.
“To try to get better than him is also a goal and he has 34 games for Norway, and I think over 200 games in the Premier League, in England, so it’s still missing a bit.”
After seeing Haaland strike twice during the week, former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness suggested the Norway star’s skills already far exceeded that of his dad’s.
Haaland has hit the ground running in Dortmund colours and was quick to pay tribute to his new teammates for making the transition such a smooth one.
“I’ve been here one month, but when my teammates are so good, it’s getting easy sometimes, you know, to create chances and to play with them, because they’re so good,” he said.
“The first second I played with Jadon [Sancho], Marco [Reus], Thorgan [Hazard], you know these guys, it just sits direct, and that’s how it is with world-class players.”
Dortmund have previously suggested that one key factor behind Haaland’s decision to join them and not Manchester United was a video montage of their passionate supporters.
Having now played in front of the club’s faithful, Haaland admitted the reception exceeded his wildest expectations.
“When I walked out for the first time, on the bench of course, and I heard the Yellow Wall and the whole stadium singing, it was fantastic,” he said.
“It was like a dream to play in front of 80,000. It was another level…”
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