Haaland breaks silence over Man City charges after transfer speculation

8 Oct 2026 21:02 BST 2 min read

Erling Haaland, Manchester City — © IMAGO

Suraj Radia | Editor

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Erling Haaland has urged Manchester City fans to ‘smile’ despite the looming punishment hanging over the club for their financial breaches.

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City were found guilty by the Premier League last month of more than 100 charges spanning a nine-year period, with the club facing the prospect of potential relegation, transfer bans and even expulsion from the league.

FootballTransfers has also been told that there could be a mass exodus of players if City’s appeal against the verdict fails, with Haaland among the stars whose future could be uncertain, however the top scorer remained calm when questioned over the situation.

Asked what he would say to the City supporters ahead of this weekend’s match against Liverpool, Haaland told Sky Sports: "They're going to have a good time.

"We have to stick together. We have to stay with each other, and we have to stay positive. No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile. So we have to stay positive, look ahead, and try to win football games and try to enjoy the situation and win the game.

"We have to stick together; we have to spread the love to each other. So yeah: stick together, and enjoy the ride and smile."

Haaland: “I’m a Man City fan and I feel with the supporters

Haaland would arguably be City’s most in-demand star if the club were to get relegated, with Barcelona and Real Madrid among the clubs that have held a long-term interest in the Norweigen and monitoring the situation.

© IMAGO - Erling Haaland has been linked with an exit from Man City.

Equally, Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Haaland while FootballTransfers has been told that Arsenal would make the 26-year-old a target ‘without a shadow of a doubt’ if he became available.

Despite the speculation, Haaland insisted he cares about City and considers himself a fan after being brought up around the environment through his father, who also played for the club.

“Yeah, I care a lot about this place and the UK generally,” Haaland said. "It’s a special place for us. I care a lot about the city, I have to say. I care a lot about the fans because I'm a fan myself, and I feel with them as well."