HAALAND NOT HAPPY? YOU MUST BE MAD

PEP GUARDIOLA believes Erling Haaland is happy at Manchester City – despite Real Madrid’s efforts to unsettle the prolific goalscorer.

Reports from Spain suggested Haaland was ready to leave City this summer, with Real said to be ready to pay the striker’s estimated release clause of £170million.

According to the reports, Haaland is keen to link up with friend and former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Jude

Bellingham and also feels Madrid would give him a better quality of life.

Asked if he felt the rumours from Spain were a direct attempt to turn the Norwegian’s head, Guardiola said: “I don’t know, you have to ask the media from Madrid.

“Maybe they have more information than we have.

“I don’t – we don’t – have that feeling that he’s unhappy. He was (unhappy) because he could not play for two months because he was injured, but maybe the media from Spain – and especially Madrid – have more information than us.

“We cannot say he didn’t adapt quickly and he was not fine since he arrived – just the level he showed since he arrived on day one. But we cannot control what people say.

“What’s important is that he’s happy. And when he’s unhappy, he will make his decision.”

City travel to Brentford on Monday night and Haaland (with Guardiola, above) is expected to make his first start for two months, having made his return as a substitute in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Burnley.

Haaland has 19 goals in all competitions for City this season, despite missing 10 games with a stress fracture of the foot.

The 23-year-old signed from Dortmund for a fee of £51m in 2022.