Erling Haaland has become a father, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed.
The Norway international got back to goalscoring ways against Leicester City on Sunday and his manager revealed his effort will cap off a monumental few days for the forward. Haaland bagged his 14th Premier League goal of the season to help City to a 2-0 win and three much-needed points.
The Catalan coach expressed his sympathy for his star striker whose form in front of goal has matched City's own. Guardiola highlighted Haaland's big news following the game in paying tribute to him however.
Guardiola said: “Sometimes Erling has been judged badly but it's part of football. He's tired, he's played a lot of minutes. He's become a father for the first time in the last few days, a lot of emotions and an exciting few days for him."
In October, Haaland appeared to reveal that he and girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen were expecting a child. While on international duty the former Borussia Dortmund star posted a photograph on social media which displayed him with a football under his shirt and sucking his thumb.
The forward captioned the snap with a baby emoji and a soon arrow emoji. Now it appears that Haaland has firmly entered fatherhood.
"I have known this forever," Sander Berge told Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet upon Haaland's public announcement. "I am very happy for him. It is very nice to know that he will become a father together with his partner, Isabel.
"I look forward to following their journey as parents." The Fulham midfielder is said to be a close friend and suggested he was told of the news over the summer.
"There are many fathers in the team now. The national team manager in 25 years' time faces a bright future," manager Stale Solbakken joked, with Haaland's post signalling the point the rest of his teammates discovered his news.
While his newborn child is said to have arrived in recent days, aaland has participated in a busy festive schedule. The 24-year-old played on December 21st and 26th before featuring on the 29th against Leicester. The sharshooter scored his first goal after going three games without one.
The imposing forward will now be able to have more time at home with six days until City's next match. They take on West Ham United on Saturday, at the Etihad Stadium.
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