Joe Cole and Peter Crouch have given their thoughts on Erling Haaland’s staggering new nine-and-a-half-year deal at Manchester City.
Haaland, 24, penned the blockbuster contract extension on Friday morning which is believed to be one of the most lucrative sporting deals of all-time.
The Norwegian star will be 34-years-old when his new contract expires, while all of the previous release clauses from his current deal – which had been due to expire in the summer of 2027 – have been removed.
And former Premier League star Crouch admitted he was left a bit surprised by the nature of the contract, but pinpointed one potential reason behind the move.
‘I think it’s a strange one,’ Crouch told TNT Sports ahead of Newcastle’s clash against Bournemouth.
‘I don’t know (why the contract is that long), there must have been murmurings of potential people in for him for them to offer that. I totally get it from City’s point of view.
Erling Haaland signed a new nine-and-a-half year contract with Manchester City on Friday
Haaland’s new deal will take his time with City up to 2034, by which time he will be 34
Peter Crouch admitted he felt the new deal was ‘strange’, but said it was great business
‘(It benefits) Man City (the most). They’ve held his value, there’s no get out clauses in it so they hold his value for the next 10 years.
‘He’s not going to wane, he’s only going to get better. He’s been an absolute revelation since he came to the Premier League.’
Crouch continued: ‘I think he’ll break every single record. You look at Alan Shearer’s 260 and that looks in danger now.
‘He was pretty pleased when Harry Kane moved but I think Haaland will break every record.’
Haaland has previously been linked to reigning European champions Real Madrid, with repeated reports in Spain that release clauses had offered hope a deal could be agreed at some point in the future.
In fact, Mail Sport understand that his career plan had involved moving to La Liga – with Real long-term admirers – and Haaland is understood to have reiterated that idea to friends over the last two years.
But a new contract covering 10 seasons without those clauses is a significant change in direction and sign of intent – and the 24-year-old went onto express his desire to create a legacy with City when speaking after penning his new deal.
Haaland’s goals have helped Manchester City to claim the Premier League in 2023 and 2024
Haaland has won back-to-back Golden Boots and expressed his desire to create a legacy
Joe Cole felt Haaland’s new deal was an ‘unbelievable coup’ and brilliant news for City
Haaland has scored 111 goals in 126 appearances for Man City in all competitions since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022.
The Norwegian was part of crucial part of City’s Treble-winning season in 2022-23, while he added the FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield last season, with the striker absent through injury for City’s Club World Cup success in December 2023.
And Cole went onto echo Crouch’s views that the contract was brilliant news for City.
‘That is an unbelievable coup for Manchester City,’ he said. ‘If you think in the context, where they are.
‘They’ve fallen off the top spot, what’s going on in the courts (with the alleged 115 financial charges where City deny any wrongdoing) and a manager who was leaving but now he’s staying.
‘They’re trying to rebuild and they need a fulcrum, someone who if they’re going to the best players and saying “come and play for Man City, we’re going to get this club back up to the top”, they can say “we’ve got the best goalscorer in Europe signed to a 10-year contract”.
‘The statement about it… it’s a fantastic business decision and I’m sure Mr Haland won’t be short of a bob over the next decade.’
Haaland and his girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen welcomed their first child last month
Both pundits went onto praise Haaland – who has won back-to-back Golden Boots – for all that he has achieved already at City and felt that the Norwegian was only going to break more records going forward.
‘I’ve not seen a striker like him ever in my time,’ Cole added. ‘This kid is just like he’s been built in a lab to score goals.
Crouch said: ‘He’s an incredible talent and an amazing player. Given the right service he’s going to continue to score goals.
‘I’ve got a little record myself, the headed goals record… I think that will get smashed to pieces as well.’
