Real Madrid blow, Premier League charges - What Erling Haaland contract really means for Man City

When Pep Guardiola signed a new contract in November, he cited Manchester City's wretched form as a reason to stay. Now Erling Haaland has hinted at the same as he put pen to paper on a monumental nine-year extension.

Haaland's bumper deal effectively ties him to City for the peak years of his career, expiring when he is 33 and therefore putting an end to the background transfer links to Real Madrid.

With 111 goals already in sky Blue, Haaland's record-breaking rate of scoring has slowed this season as City have struggled, and the striker referenced that form when explaining why he signed a new deal.

“I am really confident that we will turn things around. Things have been difficult as we are so used to winning games, but also it is a challenge for us," he said. "To get this feeling of hunger inside every single one of us to not look at things easier. Don’t take things for granted, that is an important thing.

"I will do everything I can to change things around.

“It is a bit of a reality check on actually how difficult it is just to win a game because look how good other teams are. Then you also look at City winning four-in-a-row and how extraordinary that was. To win the Treble as well is ridiculous. Look forward, stay positive and attack what is ahead.”

That motivation will be music to City's ears - as will his declaration that he is coming for Alan Shearer's all-time record of 260 Premier League goals. City expect him to improve and self-improvement is on Haaland's mind too.

There are other long-term implications too. Those endless Real Madrid links (often encouraged by the Haaland camp) should end.

In Haaland's announcement video on Friday, in which he sent a 'letter' to defenders, he hinted at that speculation, saying: "There's been a lot of rumours flying around recently. I get it, sometimes you might not want me around. But I think we need each other. In other words, you complete me. All I have to say is, I'm sorry. I'm here to stay."

And talk of working with Pep Guardiola for longer is intriguing - Haaland's initial contract was set to expire in 2027, when Guardiola's new deal also runs out. It feels unlikely that Guardiola will sign a new extension after the deliberations to sign his November deal, so Haaland's comments are interesting.

Regardless, the new deal ensures that Haaland will be the poster-boy of City's transition into a post-Guardiola era whenever the manager does leave. Having that consistency will make any such transition significantly easier, and will help sell City to whoever is chosen as Guardiola's successor.

And the elephant in the room is always those Premier League charges, with a verdict expected this year. If City are found guilty, the most severe of potential punishments could be relegation or a points deduction that catapults City out of title contention and European football.

So for Haaland to commit so emphatically reinforces the confidence within the club that they have done nothing wrong - just like Guardiola's contract and their nine-figure spend in January.

The arrival of Omar Marmoush in January will offer competition for Haaland but also support, locking in their attacking options for the coming years.