PEP GUARDIOLA says Manchester City love Erling Haaland so much they want him to stay for a DECADE.
The Norwegian striker’s return after two months out with a foot injury has brought fresh reports linking him with Real Madrid.
GettyInterest from Spanish giants Real Madrid has been talked up but Pep Guardiola says Man City hope to keep Erling Haaland for a ‘long time’[/caption]
Talks over a new deal with the Treble winners have yet to result in anything official.
And in Spain it is said Haaland, 23, does not like living in Manchester.
But boss Guardiola said: “What do you think, we don’t want Erling to stay here for one decade? Honestly. Yes, we want him to stay for a long time in this club. We are in love with him.
“First, it’s an honour the important clubs want our players but in the end the players decide.
“But, of course, we want to keep our best players. We need good players.”
Haaland was born in Leeds while his dad Alfie was playing for the Whites.
Despite the reports from Spain, Haaland gave an interview to City last week in which he spoke about how settled he feels in Manchester.
Asked what he liked most about life in the North West, he said: “I’m a football guy, for me it’s easy for my family to come over, right over the sea, really close.
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“I like the vibes, the positivity from the fans when I meet them. The banter. Also, the English people in general.
“I love to joke like them — we are similar in Norway, we like the banter.
“People see us on the streets, United fans, we joke with each other.”
Haaland banged in a record 52 goals in all competitions last term — his debut season for City.
He added: “The first season for me, it was the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup.
“We came back to pre-season and it was like, ‘Are we back already?’
“It’s taken a couple of months to digest it.
“I want to recreate some of the things we did last season.”
GettyCity hope Haaland will be be on fire again after returning from injury[/caption]