Erling Haaland has not been afraid to show his love for Leeds United publicly since moving to Manchester City.
Haaland suggested singing Marching on Together at his City initiation back in 2022 and also opted against celebrating when he netted twice at Elland Road two years ago.
Incredibly, he also spoke to former Leeds man James Milner in the middle of a game between Liverpool and Manchester City, English football’s peak rivalry of recent years.
Of course, his love affair all stems from the fact he was born in Leeds while his dad Alf-Inge played for the club between 1997 and 2000.
Alf-Inge was a teammate of fellow Norwegian Eirik Bakke, who Haaland had on the back of his Leeds shirt as a youngster.
What Haaland does Leeds fans will love
While Bakke says Haaland still dreams of playing for Leeds one day, that is currently a long way off considering the current plight of both parties.
Haaland is one of the highest paid and best strikers in the world, while Leeds are still fighting to return to the Premier League.
However, the current gap between the two does not mean Haaland has stopped thinking about Leeds. In fact, it is quite the opposite according to Alf Ingve Berntsen, someone who previously worked with the 24-year-old.
Berntsen claimed in an interview with Leeds Live that Haaland still looks out for Leeds’ results every week even now, insisting he is very ‘proud’ of where he was born.
He said: “Erling always looked back on that time and his dad was there. Erling mentioned Leeds a lot. He has his shirt and everything from Leeds. That was the club he followed in England in the beginning and I think he still does.
“Things have happened and he’s gone on to other things, but Leeds will always be a part of his heart. When you are born there, that’s the case. With Alfie, it’s been there for a while.
“Sometimes, it’s difficult now to mention too much about other clubs, but I think that will still be the case. Early on, he was proud to be born in Leeds and, also, that his dad played there. He’s following Leeds and the results every week.”
What Eirik Bakke said about Haaland joining Leeds
As mentioned, Haaland and Bakke’s families go way back due to their affiliation with both Leeds and Norway.
With that in mind, Bakke will know better than anyone what Haaland’s future plans look like, and he insists Leeds remains in the picture.
He said: “When I came over, Erling was born a year after. To see him grow up from that little energetic boy to what he is now is crazy. Leeds has got a special place in his heart.
“If it wasn’t for Pep Guardiola and Man City, I think he would love to play for Leeds one day. He was born in Leeds. It was a special day when he scored two goals there.”
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
