The buzz surrounding Erling Haaland is not dying down, despite the fact Norway are out of the World Cup.
Norway were beaten 2-1 by England after extra time in the World Cup quarter-final, ending their storied run in North America this summer.
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Manchester City star Haaland has been one of the most-talked about players on the planet during this year’s World Cup after scoring seven times during the tournament.
He’s become such a big star in the US that newly-converted soccer fans are wondering whether he would consider a switch from the Premier League to the MLS anytime soon.
It’s a question that has been put to the 25-year-old striker before.
“No, I didn’t think that. I haven’t been a lot. I’ve been two times,” Haaland said on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast in 2023.
“I’m 23, so people are going over to the MLS and playing football there.
“I never thought of it because I’m young. I’m playing in Man City, you know? I basically just came here.”
Paul then asked Haaland if the USA’s vibrant nightlife could convince him to move stateside, off the back of his nightclub appearance in 2022.
“I’m not worried about [nightclubs] because I’m a footballer,” Haaland added.
“I’m not worried about this. I’ve got good people around me.”
The Norway talisman has gained a large following in the USA over the past few weeks, not just for his performances on the field, but his social media antics, too.
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He entertained with posts including a mocked-up picture with the cartoon ogre Shrek, captioned “Selfie with my twin”, while a picture of him going undercover as a tourist in New York in a baseball cap and sunglasses also went viral.
He also entertained fans by swapping his famous Viking helmet for a cowboy hat while out shopping in Texas.
Haaland’s antics saw his social media following grow from 40 million to 60 million on Instagram.
He made additional headlines when he exited the Norway plane holding a stuffed raccoon.
2026-27 will be Haaland’s fifth with Man City, after signing from Borussia Dortmund for $68 million (£51.2m) in 2022.
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Ultimately, while American fans may have embraced Haaland’s off-field personality, any hopes of seeing the striker in MLS remain a distant prospect.
At just 25, and fully in the prime of his career, his immediate future lies firmly at the highest level of European football, although you never know where he one day might end up.
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