ERLING HAALAND has told Manchester City pals he supports a surprising team.
But there’s a good reason behind the striker’s decision.
Haaland, 22, has enjoyed a stunning debut season in England following last summer’s £51.2million move from Borussia Dortmund.
The hitman has netted an incredible 27 goals in just 25 league matches.
And he hopes to end his first campaign under Pep Guardiola with at least one piece of silverware.
However, it appears Haaland is also taking a keen interest in football outside England’s top flight.
City teammate Julian Alvarez claims the global superstar is a big fan of Argentine football.
And there’s one team in particular that has caught Haaland’s eye.
It’s claimed he is a big fan of Boca Juniors, the two-time former home of legendary late striker Diego Maradona.
Alvarez, ironically an icon at Boca’s fierce rivals River Plate, was left stunned by Haaland’s enthusiasm for the Buenos Aires giants.
3Julian Alvarez hopes to make Haaland a River Plate fanCredit: Reuters
3Haaland started supporting Boca thanks to ex-Dortmund pal Leonardo BalerdiCredit: AFP
And he reckons it stems from the Norwegian’s time sharing a dressing at Dortmund with Argentina defender Leonardo Balerdi, who is now at Marseille.
Alvarez, who hopes to convert Haaland into a River fan, told TyC Sports: “Beyond what we all know about football, Haaland is a good boy.
“He helps me, we talk and from the outside I try to look at him to learn.
“Since I arrived he told me that he was for Boca and told me about La Bombonera.
“I think he was with Leonardo Balerdi in Borussia Dortmund and that was a bit of an influence.
“Let’s see if we change it little by little, it’s going to be difficult but we’re going to try.”
Meanwhile, Balerdi previously opened up on Haaland’s love for Boca, saying: “When I was at Borussia, from the first day he asked me which was the best team, the one with the most history in Argentina.
“I drove him crazy with Boca, I showed him videos of fans, photos of the stadium and everything related to Boca.
“I told him what it felt like to play in La Bombonera, which was something unique.
“He became a fan of Boca and to this day we are in contact and every time he sees a video of Boca he sends it to me.
“He annoys me and asks ‘When are we going?’ So hopefully one day he’ll have to experience that. He asked me to send him a Boca shirt with the No9 on it.
“He’s quite a fan, I’m going to keep driving him crazy so that it happens every time a little more.”
