Man City keeping close tabs on Erling Haaland behind the scenes after new reveal – pundit
Noel Whelan has insisted Man City want to protect “prize possession” Erling Haaland whilst on international duty.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds United striker said City have sent a sports therapist with Haaland on international duty for “educational” purposes.
As reported by the Daily Mail (19 September), Mario Pafundi has joined the 22-year-old to monitor his routine whilst he’s away from Pep Guardiola’s side.
Speaking ahead of the camp, Norway manager Stale Soblakken said that it was Haaland’s idea for Pafundi to join the club.
The Norwegian boss added that Pafundi has been working with other players on the team but is said to be there predominantly to maintain Haaland’s daily routine from Manchester.
Whelan suggested City will be looking to keep the striker up to speed while he’s away from the club.
“Well there’s obviously been a conversation between country and club, that’s probably fair to say and to ask if it’s ok to monitor him, keep up his fitness levels to check where he’s at and make sure he’s not doing too much, not doing too little,” he told Football Insider.
“You’re looking at your prize possession right now and you want to keep him in good form and to a certain level. Sometimes it’s not a bad thing to go and see players and how they are with the national team. How they train, how they look after their bodies, how they work together. It’s not a bad relationship to have.
“I’m sure it won’t happen all the time, I’m sure it’s just a one-off to monitor and see what he is capable of when he goes with the international side and what training regime they have as well. I guess it’s all educational right now for Man City to see what he does while he’s away but also to monitor that diamond in the rough, that player that is absolutely flying for them at the moment.
“This is just educational I’m sure but it’s probably something that has been spoken about between club and country and that relationship is good enough to allow that to happen.“
Haaland scored for Norway as they took on Slovenia in the Nations League on Saturday (24 September).
Norway went on to lose the game 2-1.
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