Pep Guardiola shares true feelings on Erling Haaland contract - 'I couldn't believe it!'

Erling Haaland has committed his aboriginal to Manchester City until 2034 aft signing a bumper caller declaration and manager Pep Guardiola has admitted helium was amazed by the news

Pep Guardiola has admitted helium was shocked by Erling Haaland's determination to sign a caller nine-and-a-half twelvemonth contract to stay astatine Manchester City.

The quality means helium volition enactment with City until helium is 34, with reports stating that determination is nary merchandise clause successful the deal. And Guardiola, who committed his ain aboriginal to City backmost successful November by signing a two-year extension, "could not judge it" erstwhile the club's CEO Ferran Sorriano informed him of Haaland's decision.

When asked for his absorption to the news, Guardiola told Sky Sports : "When Ferran told me, I said "sorry, tin you archer maine again!?" Because I could not judge it. It ne'er happened before. After that it happened, but I don't deliberation anybody pushed the different one. I deliberation some [parties] wanted it.

"It is large quality for the club, I anticipation [and expect] helium is happy, different helium would not bash it. To person this unthinkable talent, unsocial subordinate and striker for the club, for the adjacent decade, is truly important.

"He would not motion a declaration if helium could not visualise his aboriginal arsenic a shot subordinate astatine this club, and the imaginable and the situation present - it would beryllium impossible. I americium truly pleased, particularly pleased helium has done it successful not an casual infinitesimal for america successful presumption of results.

"And to bash it successful this moment, I think, means a batch for the spot successful everyone astatine this club. He knows successful 10 years - I don't cognize what's going to hap - but helium volition person antithetic backroom unit and players. So I deliberation helium signs, due to the fact that helium sees City successful the Premier League, of course, and helium sees the imaginable [and] that the nine has been 1 decennary astatine the top, for many, galore years.

"I deliberation the information that helium loves to play successful the Premier League is simply a large compliment to the Premier League, to the full organisation, to everyone and helium wants to play for the nine for galore reasons - unthinkable clubs, unthinkable teams, year-by-year it's getting better, and that is it."

City's outgoing manager of shot Txiki Begiristain, who volition beryllium replaced by Hugo Viana astatine the extremity of the season, hailed Haaland's caller woody and insisted the 24-year-old volition "create an unthinkable bequest astatine this shot club".

"Everyone astatine the Club is perfectly delighted that Erling has signed his caller contract," helium said. "The information helium is signed for truthful agelong demonstrates our committedness to him arsenic a player, and his emotion of this club.

"He has made an unthinkable interaction already successful his clip present and his astonishing numbers and records talk for themselves. But successful summation to his outstanding earthy endowment and ability, Erling's dedication, professionalism, humility and tendency to support getting amended sum up what we each strive to execute astatine Manchester City.

"He is 1 of the finest strikers successful world football, but Erling is inactive precise young and volition lone proceed to amended moving nether Pep and his coaching team. If helium works hard, which I cognize helium will, helium volition make an unthinkable bequest astatine this shot club. Now helium tin absorption connected his crippled and continuing to play a immense portion successful helping america effort to execute adjacent much success."

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