Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has shown no outward signs of being affected by his club’s guilty verdict in the Premier League’s long-running financial rules case, according to Norway international Kristoffer Ajer.
City were found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League, in a case covering alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018.
The verdict, confirmed this week, marks one of the most significant disciplinary rulings in the competition’s history, though no sanctions have yet been determined and City are expected to appeal.
Ajer hails Haaland’s temperament
Speaking from the Norway camp, where Haaland is preparing for international duty, Brentford defender Ajer was asked about his team-mate’s mood since the news broke.
“Ever since I met him he brings lot of energy and joy to the group,” Ajer said. “That’s the biggest compliment I always give, he hasn’t changed a bit from the moment I met him, even though he’s the biggest star on the planet right now.
“He been exactly the same the last few days as well which is is not a surprise for me.”
The centre-back, who has played alongside Haaland for the national team, went on to offer a glowing assessment of the striker’s quality on the pitch, with the pair set to feature together when Norway continue their fixtures.
“He’s the best player in the world if you ask me, so hopefully he scores a few tomorrow as well,” Ajer added.
Norway squad keeping its distance from the controversy
Ajer was careful to stress that the Manchester City situation has not dominated conversation within the Norway set-up, and that players have largely stayed out of discussions around the legal and financial complexities of the case.
“I have to admit that honestly I’ve read very little into it,” he said. “We don’t talk about it much here. Obviously, it was a statement released yesterday, so it’s quite fresh and new.
“But we’re just footballers, we don’t know all the ins and outs and all the stuff that’s being talked about in the media. So we haven’t really had any fantastic discussions about it where we know a lot.”
According to the report, whatever the scale of the fallout at club level, Haaland is approaching international duty with his focus fixed on football rather than the courtroom.
Meanwhile, a City spokesperson said the club’s position “remains consistent” with the statement it issued when the charges were first announced in February 2023, adding that the Premier League process “remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.”
The club has also maintained that it has “diligently respected due process” throughout the investigation, which it says has lasted eight years.
Possible sanctions, should they eventually be imposed, range from fines to points deductions, though stripping City of Premier League titles would be unprecedented in the English top flight. City are expected to challenge the findings, a process that could extend proceedings well into next year or beyond.
