Manchester City star Erling Haaland has made a significant cultural contribution to his Norwegian homeland, donating a rare 16th-century manuscript of Viking sagas to his home municipality.
The Norway international, alongside his father Alf-Inge Haaland, acquired the 1594 edition of Snorri Sturluson’s chronicles at auction in December.
The purchase, costing 1.3 million Norwegian crowns ($133,636), set a national record for book sales, according to broadcaster NRK. This historic volume, which chronicles the lives of medieval Norse kings, will now be permanently displayed at the local library in Time.
Haaland’s motivation for the acquisition was to ensure the text remained within his home region of Jaeren, allowing local residents to connect with historical figures from their own area.
He stated: “I am living my dream, but unfortunately that is reserved for only a few. I have seen how books enable many people to dream and make their dreams come true.”
This philanthropic gesture adds another dimension to the profile of Norway’s all-time leading goalscorer. The 25-year-old is currently preparing to lead his country in their first World Cup appearance in 28 years this June.
It comes after Haaland has announced his investment in a new global chess tour, aiming to elevate the strategic game to a wider audience.
The prolific forward is backing Norway Chess, the organisation behind the forthcoming Total Chess World Championship Tour, which is set to launch next year.
Haaland, 25, expressed his enthusiasm for the game, stating: “Chess is an incredible game. It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football. You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead. Strategy and planning are everything.”
He added: “I’m investing in Norway Chess because I believe the new Total Chess World Championship Tour can turn chess into an even bigger sport for spectators around the world. The team behind Norway Chess has already done an impressive job growing the event, and joining the project was too exciting to pass up.”
Haaland, whose compatriot Magnus Carlsen is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time, joins a growing number of top footballers with an interest in the game, including Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arsenal star Eberechi Eze.
