Erling Haaland cut a mischievous figure in Norway’s team training ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Israel on Saturday evening, with the Manchester City star’s quips audible after the striker was mic’d up for a social media video.
The Norwegian forward has linked up with his team in an effort to book their spot at next year’s World Cup in North America.
Norway currently sit top of their Group I having won all five of their last matches, ahead of traditional World Cup powerhouses Italy, who are second-placed.
Stale Solbakken’s squad look all but assured of making it to the tournament across the pond next summer with a towering 15-point total some way ahead of their rivals.
With a meeting against Israel to come, Haaland was therefore in a buoyant mood and happy to show off during the training session, letting fans into his high jinks after agreeing to wear a microphone.
In the amusing social media clip, Haaland is an energetic presence in the set-up, greeting his team-mates with a volley of ‘let’s go’s’.
Erling Haaland was mic’d up for his most recent team training with his Norway team this week
The Manchester City man is gunning for World Cup qualification ahead of next summer
During a round of rondos, Haaland mocked Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup, saying: You’re allowed to be up on your toes, Schjelderup.
‘It’s allowed.’
After a more competent display, he then joked with goalkeeper Mathias Dyngeland that he ‘plays like Rodri’, in likely the shotstopper’s first comparison to a Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder.
In one amusing moment, Haaland teased Thelo Aasgaard by switching into Mancunian-accented English, asking if he was ‘f***ing alright?’.
‘Have you been drinking? Have you been drinking?’ Haaland probed the Rangers player. ‘What did you do last night?’
At one point, Haaland appeared to try and involve his Man City team-mate Oscar Bobb in the drill, having noticed the player staring into the distance.
‘Oscar. Oscar. Oscar, please can’t you start running?’ Haaland implored.
Fans on social media lauded Haaland’s high spirits, with one user on X replying that Haaland is ‘so funny’.
Haaland had both compliments and teases for his team-mates during the high-spirited session
Haaland had great fun teasing Thelo Aasgaard of Rangers for his role during one exercises
The 25-year-old has got off to another pitch-perfect start in Manchester, netting 12 goals
Another added: ‘Petition to mic up Erling for every game’.
Haaland even appeared to dole out some free advice to those in the session, sharing that ‘most are things are not about quality.
‘It’s all about mentality. You have to want to score.’
There is no one better placed than Haaland in his country’s history, with the 25-year-old already Norway’s all-time top scorer just six years after making his international debut.
Haaland has scored 48 times in his 45 appearances, bettering the amount scored by previous record-holder Jorgen Juve – 33 – in the early 20th century in the same amount of games.
During this year’s World Cup qualifying campaign, Haaland has scored 10 times, with an eyebrow-raising five of them coming in one rout of Moldova at the start of September.
Haaland has been in similarly fine form in Man City colours this season, with 12 goals to his name thus far across both the Premier League and Champions League.
