Alfie Haaland concedes Manchester City “just have to accept” Erling Haaland injury reality | OneFootball

Former Manchester City midfielder Alfie Haaland has reflected on his son Erling Haaland’s struggles with injury and given a word of warning on some harsh truths the club will have to put up with in the years to come.

Haaland has been spotted in first-team training ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final tie against Nottingham Forest at Wembley after missing the last month of action having picked up an ankle injury against Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final in March.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation since his £53 million transfer to the Etihad Stadium from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, spearheading Manchester City to a historic treble and their maiden Champions League title in his first season in England.

Manchester City rewarded Haaland for his heroics since his arrival with a sensational 10-year contract in the fall of 2024 that will keep the Norway international at the club till the summer of 2034.

The forward has scored 30 times and provided four assists in 40 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City in what has been a sub-standard season for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are still embroiled in a top five Premier League finish race.

Despite a major drop-off in the quality of service this season – owing largely to the playmaker pair of Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden enduring underwhelming campaigns – Haaland has still delivered the goods for the club his father Alfie has previously played for.

“It doesn’t have to be negative, no, but I think he (Erling Haaland) would have wanted to play in the final stretch of the Premier League,” Alfie Haaland said in an interview with VG, as relayed by Sport Witness.

“He understands that it’s just something you have to accept. He’s getting older, too. A couple of years ago it would probably have been a little different. Now you just have to accept it and build on what you can do something about.”