• 1) Erling Haaland opened his Manchester City goals account with a penalty in the 2-0 win against West Ham United at London Stadium on August 7, 2022. Getty
    1) Erling Haaland opened his Manchester City goals account with a penalty in the 2-0 win against West Ham United at London Stadium on August 7, 2022. Getty
  • 2) Haaland celebrates after also scoring the second goal against West Ham. Reuters
    2) Haaland celebrates after also scoring the second goal against West Ham. Reuters
  • 3) Haaland was on target again in the thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle United St James' Park on August 21, 2022. Getty
    3) Haaland was on target again in the thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle United St James' Park on August 21, 2022. Getty
  • 4) City fell two behind at home to Crystal Palace on August 27, but a shock was averted. Haaland celebrates after scoring their second goal in a 4-2 win. EPA
    4) City fell two behind at home to Crystal Palace on August 27, but a shock was averted. Haaland celebrates after scoring their second goal in a 4-2 win. EPA
  • 5) ...and the Norwegian soon added their third against Palace. AP
    5) ...and the Norwegian soon added their third against Palace. AP
  • 6) ... and their fourth for his first City hat-trick. PA
    6) ... and their fourth for his first City hat-trick. PA
  • 7) Haaland clearly enjoyed scoring a treble, so he helped himself to another in the 6-0 destruction of Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on August 31, 2022. This was the first. Getty
    7) Haaland clearly enjoyed scoring a treble, so he helped himself to another in the 6-0 destruction of Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on August 31, 2022. This was the first. Getty
  • 8) Haaland celebrates after scoring his second goal against Forest. EPA
    8) Haaland celebrates after scoring his second goal against Forest. EPA
  • 9) Haaland completes his hat-trick against Forest. AFP
    9) Haaland completes his hat-trick against Forest. AFP
  • 10) Doubles figures for Haaland on September 3 as he scores in the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. Action Images
    10) Doubles figures for Haaland on September 3 as he scores in the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. Action Images
  • 11) Haaland opens his City Champions League account with the opening goal in the 4-0 victory at Sevilla on September 6. EPA
    11) Haaland opens his City Champions League account with the opening goal in the 4-0 victory at Sevilla on September 6. EPA
  • 12) Haaland celebrates with teammates after scoring his second and City's third against Sevilla. Getty
    12) Haaland celebrates with teammates after scoring his second and City's third against Sevilla. Getty
  • 13) Erling Haaland scores a spectacular winner in the 2-1 Champions League victory against former club Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad stadium on September 14, 2022. AP
    13) Erling Haaland scores a spectacular winner in the 2-1 Champions League victory against former club Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad stadium on September 14, 2022. AP
  • 14) Haaland on the mark again, this time in the 3-0 win at Wolves on September 17. PA
    14) Haaland on the mark again, this time in the 3-0 win at Wolves on September 17. PA
  • 15) A first Manchester derby for Erling Haaland, and he scores the second goal in City's 6-3 Premier League win against United on October 2, 2022. Getty
    15) A first Manchester derby for Erling Haaland, and he scores the second goal in City's 6-3 Premier League win against United on October 2, 2022. Getty
  • 16) No stopping the Norwegian in the derby as he scores again against United. PA
    16) No stopping the Norwegian in the derby as he scores again against United. PA
  • 17) Haaland scores City's fifth goal against United and completes his hat-trick. Reuters
    17) Haaland scores City's fifth goal against United and completes his hat-trick. Reuters
  • 18) Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the opening goal in the Champions League win against FC Copenhagen on October 5, 2022. PA
    18) Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the opening goal in the Champions League win against FC Copenhagen on October 5, 2022. PA
  • 19) Erling Haaland scores his second goal against FC Copenhagen - and was taken off at half-time to spare them more punishment. AP
    19) Erling Haaland scores his second goal against FC Copenhagen - and was taken off at half-time to spare them more punishment. AP
  • 20) Erling Haaland scored his 20th of the season in the 4-0 rout against Southampton on October 8. EPA
    20) Erling Haaland scored his 20th of the season in the 4-0 rout against Southampton on October 8. EPA
  • 21) Haaland celebrates after scoring City's opening goal in the 3-1 Premier League win against Brighton at Etihad Stadium on October 22, 2022. PA
    21) Haaland celebrates after scoring City's opening goal in the 3-1 Premier League win against Brighton at Etihad Stadium on October 22, 2022. PA
  • 22) Haaland adds his 22nd goal for City from the penalty spot against Brighton. Getty
    22) Haaland adds his 22nd goal for City from the penalty spot against Brighton. Getty
  • 23) Erling Haaland is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the late winner in the 2-1 victory against Fulham at Etihad Stadium on November 5, 2022. AP
    23) Erling Haaland is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the late winner in the 2-1 victory against Fulham at Etihad Stadium on November 5, 2022. AP
  • 24) Haaland celebrates scoring the opening goal in the 3-2 League Cup fourth round win against at Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on December 22, 2022. Getty
    24) Haaland celebrates scoring the opening goal in the 3-2 League Cup fourth round win against at Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on December 22, 2022. Getty
  • 25) A quarter of a century as Haaland celebrates scoring City's second goal in the 3-1 Premier League win against Leeds at Elland Road on December 28, 2022. PA
    25) A quarter of a century as Haaland celebrates scoring City's second goal in the 3-1 Premier League win against Leeds at Elland Road on December 28, 2022. PA
  • 26) And another against Leeds on the same night. PA
    26) And another against Leeds on the same night. PA
  • 27) Rounding off the year with another goal, but a surprise draw, Haaland scored in the 1-1 Premier League game against Everton at the Etihad Stadium on December 31, 2022. AFP
    27) Rounding off the year with another goal, but a surprise draw, Haaland scored in the 1-1 Premier League game against Everton at the Etihad Stadium on December 31, 2022. AFP
  • 28) Haaland heads City's second in the 4-2 Premier League win against Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on January 19, 2023. PA
    28) Haaland heads City's second in the 4-2 Premier League win against Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on January 19, 2023. PA
  • 29) Haaland after scoring the first in the 3-0 Premier League win against Wolves at Etihad Stadium on January 22, 2023. Getty
    29) Haaland after scoring the first in the 3-0 Premier League win against Wolves at Etihad Stadium on January 22, 2023. Getty
  • 30) Yes, 30 for the season in January, as he nets again against Wolves. PA
    30) Yes, 30 for the season in January, as he nets again against Wolves. PA
  • 31) Wolves suffer even more as Haaland completes his hat-trick. AFP
    31) Wolves suffer even more as Haaland completes his hat-trick. AFP
  • 32) A crucial game in the title race and Haaland scores City's third in the 3-1 win against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on February 15, 2023. Getty
    32) A crucial game in the title race and Haaland scores City's third in the 3-1 win against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on February 15, 2023. Getty
  • 33) Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto fails to stop Haaland from scoring City's second goal in their 4-1 Premier League win at the Vitality Stadium on February 25, 2023. PA
    33) Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto fails to stop Haaland from scoring City's second goal in their 4-1 Premier League win at the Vitality Stadium on February 25, 2023. PA
  • 34) City players celebrate after Haaland scores the only goal in the Premier League win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on March 11, 2023. Getty
    34) City players celebrate after Haaland scores the only goal in the Premier League win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on March 11, 2023. Getty
  • 35) The start of an incredible night - even by Haaland's astonishing standards - as he scores the first goal in the 7-0 Champions League destruction of RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on March 14, 2023. AFP
    35) The start of an incredible night - even by Haaland's astonishing standards - as he scores the first goal in the 7-0 Champions League destruction of RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on March 14, 2023. AFP
  • 36) ... No 2 on the night soon followed. Action Images
    36) ... No 2 on the night soon followed. Action Images
  • 37) Haaland had a hat-trick before half-time. AFP
    37) Haaland had a hat-trick before half-time. AFP
  • 38) But three was not enough for Haaland as he celebrates his fourth against Leipzig. AP
    38) But three was not enough for Haaland as he celebrates his fourth against Leipzig. AP
  • 39) Five on the night against RB Leipzig and up to 39 for the season - a City record - and it's only midway through March. AP
    39) Five on the night against RB Leipzig and up to 39 for the season - a City record - and it's only midway through March. AP

Sport

Football

'Top level' Haaland can score 800 goals - De Bruyne

Manchester City star already has 24 goals in 19 appearances since his move from Dortmund

The National

December 26, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Norwegian star Erling Haaland has been backed by Manchester City teammate Kevin De Bruyne to score 800 goals in his career as the 22-year-old gets ready for the resumption of the Premier League after the World Cup.

Haaland returns to action against Leeds on Wednesday, having already scored 24 goals in just 19 appearances since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund.

Haaland gave a glimpse of what to expect in the new year as he scored in the 3-2 League Cup win over Liverpool.

The Norwegian has more than 200 goals under his belt in senior football and looks good for many more. Also, since he did not feature in the Qatar World Cup as his team did not qualify, Haaland is expected to be in top shape to take the league by storm against weary defences.

Haaland returns to the city of his birth when the champions resume their Premier League title defence at Leeds.

  • Nathan Ake of Manchester City scores his team's third goal during the League Cup match against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, December 22, 2022. Getty
    Nathan Ake of Manchester City scores his team's third goal during the League Cup match against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, December 22, 2022. Getty
  • Manchester City's Nathan Ake celebrates scoring the third goal with Kevin De Bruyne. Reuters
    Manchester City's Nathan Ake celebrates scoring the third goal with Kevin De Bruyne. Reuters
  • Manchester City's defender Nathan Ake vies with Liverpool's striker Mohamed Salah. AFP
    Manchester City's defender Nathan Ake vies with Liverpool's striker Mohamed Salah. AFP
  • Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the first goal with Ilkay Gundogan. Reuters
    Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring the first goal with Ilkay Gundogan. Reuters
  • Erling Haaland of Manchester City battles for the ball with Nat Phillips. Getty
    Erling Haaland of Manchester City battles for the ball with Nat Phillips. Getty
  • Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after scoring the equaliser at the Etihad Stadium. EPA
    Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after scoring the equaliser at the Etihad Stadium. EPA
  • Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the League Cup. Reuters
    Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the League Cup. Reuters
  • Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City scores his team's second goal. Getty
    Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City scores his team's second goal. Getty
  • Kevin De Bruyne had a great game for Manchester City. EPA
    Kevin De Bruyne had a great game for Manchester City. EPA

De Bruyne knows a thing or two about top-class goal scorers, having enjoyed an excellent partnership with the club's record goalscorer Sergio Aguero. He also combined well with Romelu Lukaku for Belgium and played alongside Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto'o in his younger days at Chelsea.

But Haaland seems a class apart.

"It is very hard to compare because they are all totally different," De Bruyne was quoted as saying by the Press Association. "They play in the same position but some are physical players, some are speed demons and they can all score goals for fun.

"Erling hasn't because of his age, but they have all scored 300 or 400 goals. Erling is so obsessed with goals he can maybe go beyond that.

"He already has about 200 goals, so he can probably go to 600, 700 or 800 if he stays fit and does the things that he does.

"I don't really compare them because that is not the way I look at football but Erling is a top-level striker."

De Bruyne said Haaland has age on his side, which means he can dominate the game for many years.

"He is still a young boy enjoying his life and he takes his football very seriously. He loves scoring goals, so I think that is the most unique thing he has," he added.

Updated: December 26, 2022, 7:34 AM
Manchester CityErling HaalandPremier League