Erling Haaland explains Man City transfer U-turn that saw him snub Real Madrid and Barcelona again

Erling Haaland said it was easy to turn down the chance to play for Real Madrid and Barcelona after Manchester City offered him an 'unusual' deal to stay at his new home.

Haaland was a childhood Blue after dad Alfie captained the club, but that did not stop the family from seeking the best football decision for the young striker as he made his way in the game. When they were considering their next move after Dortmund, Haaland's dad spoke about the player spending a 'maximum' of three or four years in each country in order to experience many of the top European leagues.

Those words gave hope to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and others when they missed out to him to City in 2022, but any hopes the European superclubs of attracting him to their stadiums any time soon was effectively ruled out last week when Haaland signed a deal keeping him at the Etihad until 2034. The 24-year-old spoke of a return home when he signed for City, and was happy to distance himself from his dad's previous comments after plotting a new path.

"Those are his words, not mine!" he said as he spoke to reporters ahead of their Champions League game with Paris Saint-Germain. "I think when I signed for City I felt like it was home. I really meant it. I feel so happy, my family is so happy. In the end that is what I wanted.

"The people I spoke with made me convinced that this was the right choice. In the end when I spoke with people we came to this and it felt really good. I really look forward to spending so many more years in Manchester, it’s going to be amazing."

Signing such a long deal may become more common but stands out in the moment, and a player who has always enjoyed breaking the mould - the slogan for one of his promotional adverts is 'Ordinary is for everyone else' - liked the idea of ten more seasons. Asked specifically about the prospect of never playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona as a result, he did not sound disappointed.

"I just signed a nine year deal, what do you want me to say? Of course I'm happy. I’m super happy with my choice and looking forward to many years in Manchester," he said.

"It’s a really good sign [to have signed such a long deal]. Of course it’s a bit unusual. It’s not normal. That’s also something I like. In the end it felt good for both parties. It was an easy choice."