When you think about Man City, the likelihood is that the first name that will pop into your head will be either Pep Guardiola or Erling Haaland.
The Catalan is the coach supreme, whilst the Norwegian striker continues to rewrite all of the record books as far as goalscoring is concerned.
How much longer that might be the case for Haaland at the Premier League outfit is now a matter of some conjecture after his comments at a recent press conference.
Far from giving the usual PR-led answers to waiting media, the 22-year-old was refreshingly honest when discussing his future.
Erling Haaland refuses to commit his future to Man City
“In the press conference ahead of the Champions League game between Manchester City and Copenhagen, Erling Haaland was asked about his future, and he said in a very clear way that he’s very happy at Manchester City,” Fabrizio Romano said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing.
““This is going to be a big headline. You can report that one but you should make sure also that all the other things I say in the press conference are reported too. I’m very happy at Manchester City but you never know what happens tomorrow.”
“That line is quite clear guys. I think what we’ve heard Haaland say there is certainly really honest, and it’s the reality at the moment.
“It’s difficult for him to sit in on a press conference and promise he will play for Manchester City for his entire life. He certainly can’t guarantee that so I think it’s really fair to mention that sentence.”
What Haaland’s words do of course is keep Man City and its executives on their toes.
By publicly suggesting that his future could be away from the club – and in truth that was probably always likely – he has his current employers over a barrel.
His agents don’t even necessarily have to make any particular salary demands or otherwise. It’s out there now.
Haaland could therefore effectively walk any time he or his agents see fit.
Contracts should be respected of course, but as we’ve seen time and again if a player is determined enough to get their own way, they will.
Manchester city will increase his wages.