Many times, there are footballers who are class on and off the pitch, it’s like the game completely revolves around them and such is the case for Erling Haaland currently.
The dispensation of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo appears to be nearing its expiration and as such a new face of the game and megastar must emerge.
A man that has seemingly taken it in his stride to be the face of the sport is Erling Braut Haaland.
Ahead of the Champions League semi-final clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid in May, the Norwegian greeted many Manchester City faithfuls who went through terminal four at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid.
Almost everyone turned their attention on the City No 9. Staring right below the lens, Erling Haaland donned a fancy Breitling watch in a prime advertising location just beyond passport control.
This is to show you how massive the former Borussia Dortmund man is, he commands lots of attention and definitely has the charisma of a megastar.
Possibly, he alongside Kylian Mbappe might be like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in terms of rivalry or competition.
Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta has also said that the 22-year-old is worth a staggering €1 billion.
She said: “Erling is worth €1 billion, that’s not a guess, I’m sure of it. They might say I’m being ridiculous, that a club is not going to pay a billion.
“But his age, his quality, his progression and the way he behaves is why I talk about a billion.”
When clubs acquire players, they don’t only pay for their ability and as such Rafaela’s valuation takes into consideration his image and sponsorship appeal.
It’s visible to many that Erling Haaland is a vital player for Manchester City on the pitch and also off the field of play.
The Norwegian is City’s first already established star in the Sheikh Monsur era since Robinho in 2008.
Robinho penned a deal with Manchester City the exact day Abu Dhabi funds came in.
Erling Braut Haaland clocks 23 in July and he signed a multi-million pound contract with boot manufacturers Nike.
He is almost always used for commencial images or videos due to the fact that he is what partners want.
His teammate Jack Grealish is also a darling of brands who want to make their products enticing to customers.
Sponsors in Abu Dhabi definitely would have been delighted when Haaland visited the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
He accompanied City’s Under 23 squad for a warm weather session during the World Cup in Qatar.
Erling Haaland spent time recuperating from a knock with the strength and conditioning coaches alongside being filmed cooking with Riyad Mahrez and relaxing on a hammock for video content.
They had the 22-year-old greeting young locals and he gave a quick interview as well.
Manchester City wore their new kit at Brentford on Sunday and it was modelled by Haaland and Grealish in the unveiling promo, and it has seen an upward increase in sales.
2023 has been a record breaking year for Manchester City as their retail unit and a new shirt was acquired every 12 seconds, the day it was released.
That number was the highest 24 hours of trading they have ever recorded.
The City forward cannot take all the plaudits and credits for the growth in numbers but he certainly had an effect.
Erling Haaland’s Phantom GX Elite boots
Erling Haaland achieved greatness during the season with his Phantom GX Elite boots, the boot is tailored to fit him perfectly.
Completing the mechanics of the boot is a three-hour process, where the upper region is buffed, closed, bonded and pressed to fit in amazingly well.
The only plate is then closed into place and left to rest for 72 hours, away from the deafeaning machinery.
It is conscious work and the attention to detail will broaden to any preferences Haaland has over blueprint and any possible stuffing to a boot that at least weighs 7.2oz (204g), lower than some hake fillets.
The synthetic substance is away from the old leather of years past but experts say it is still strong enough to cope with the needs of elite sport.
The gripknit material is said to be a stickier feel than previous types and it helps with control.
Players can go through a pair every two weeks with the fierce Premier League workload, however Haaland is distinct.
Erling Haaland will further use same boots for up to three months until there is a colour alteration, routinely instigated by the manufacturers.
The Norwegian trains and plays in them always, whereas others might not make use of that particular set of boots for that matchday.
The only quick time he didn’t make use of his Phantom GX Elite boots was after the win at Everton earlier in May.
Nike sent over a design to commemorate his record-breaking 35 league goals in a season, surpassing Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.
Erling Haaland jogged alongside his teammates at Goodison Park with the number stitched on it and he scored in the 3-0 win against Everton.
The American company, Nike were working on another model irrespective, one that brought to the fore the different colourways used throughout a remarkable season.
Erling Haaland’s full name and his country flag were included and those are expected to be donned when City play Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, June 3.
