Football fans all said the same thing after Manchester City confirmed Erling Haaland has signed one of the biggest contracts in football history.
Haaland has put pen to paper on a staggering nine-and-a-half-year deal to commit his future to the Premier League champions until at least 2034.
As reported by Mail Sport, the superstar striker will receive an uplift in his £400,000-a-week wage packet while two release clauses in his previous terms have not been re-inserted, all but ending a future move to LaLiga.
It was believed that Haaland, who joined City in a £51million deal three years ago, had one day planned on making a switch to Spain – with Real Madrid long-term admirers – and he is understood to have reiterated the idea to friends over the last two years.
But his new contract now covers the next 10 seasons and potentially keeps him at the Etihad until the age of 34, signalling a seismic change in direction.
However, the extension comes despite City awaiting the outcome of their hearing into their alleged financial misconduct, after being charged with 130 breaches of Premier League rules. They have also been accused of failing to co-operate with a probe.
Erling Haaland has signed a staggering new nine-and-a-half-year deal at Manchester City
The striker has pledged his future to the club until 2034 and earned a pay rise
The club were originally hit with 115 charges before a further 15 were later added.
Should City, who vehemently refute any wrongdoing, be found guilty, crippling financial penalties, points deductions or even relegation could be imposed.
The hearing concluded on December 6 and boss Pep Guardiola revealed last month that he expects the verdict to be announced in February.
But deflated social media users believe Haaland’s mindboggling contract means City’s off-field headache is already a foregone conclusion.
‘Yeah they’ve genuinely got away with the 115 charges ain’t they?’ said one X user.
Another posted: ‘Alexa – tell me how Man City have got off with the 115 charges, without telling me they’ve got off with the 115 charges…’
A third said: ‘Confirms City know they aren’t getting any real punishment for the “115 charges” nonsense the rest of the PL’s been using as an excuse to bend over for them.
‘Not a chance he signs for that long if there was a possibility of anything significant happening.’
Social media users believe the deal means City will not be punished for financial misconduct
‘City signings and this new contract show me the Premier League have absolutely bottled the #115charges,’ another account said.
‘No way City are doing business like that if they were facing relegation or a substantial points deduction which would force relegation.’
’10 years of contract renewal, this surely means those 115 charges were a farce and just a waste of time? Absolutely hilarious how the crimes this institution is committing every year just goes under the desk,’ wrote another user.
‘Premier League is just high camera quality Ligue 1.’
A sixth user posted: ‘I hope people realise the biggest take away from the Haaland extension is that we 100 per cent beat the 115 charges.
‘No chance the club offers that contract, or Haaland accepts it, if it wasn’t firmly believed within the City Group that they won’t be punished.’
‘Manchester City must know something about the 115 charges or we wouldn’t be making big signings or contract extensions,’ another added. ‘Must be not guilty.’
Haaland has scored 111 goals in 126 games since joining from Borussia Dortmund for £51million and was an integral reason why City won the Treble in 2023.
Haaland has scored 111 goals in 126 games since joining from Borussia Dortmund for £51million
‘I’m super happy, proud,’ Haaland said. ‘I’m looking forward to staying here for a long time. Now I can fully focus on getting better because I am going to stay here for such a long time. Full focus on performing and getting better to give fans what they want.
‘In the end, speaking with the people I spoke with, the hunger and the support that I have been getting for the last couple of years from the board, from the bosses and from Pep (Guardiola), it was an easy decision. I am delighted.’
‘It is a really welcoming club where you get really taken care of,’ Haaland went on to add: ‘I think that is also really important when you speak with people. You really feel at home here and that is the first amazing thing.
‘When I spoke to Pep, the best manager in the world, it is also a great thing to speak with him and to train and play under him every single day. To get his input on me and how I can become a better footballer and to develop even more.
‘He is the best. Of course, you are here to win trophies, here to perform, here to be at your best and to deliver at your best. That is what you have to do here because you come here, people expect you to win trophies and that is why you are here.’
