The English Premier League’s defending champions have made a significant investment in another dynamic striker and are eager to unleash him loose.
Manchester City have been looking for a new No.9 since losing club-record goalscorer Sergio Aguero in the summer of 2021, and after failing to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham, have landed on Erling Haaland of Norway.
The reigning Premier League winners have paid £51 million ($63 million) for the outstanding 21-year-old, who scored 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund and is following in his father Alf Inge’s footsteps by joining Blues at the Etihad Stadium.
Given his track record for club and country, Haaland is expected to be another damaging attacking weapon at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, but who will he make his City debut against? GOAL investigates…
When will Erling Haaland make his Man City debut?
The Blues are in the process of finalising their pre-season plans, with many players away on international duty or taking in well-earned summer breaks on the back of another title-winning campaign in 2021-21.
As things stand, Guardiola’s men have only three friendly dates pencilled into their calendar.
The first of those will see them face Mexican side Club America at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on July 20.
If no domestic dates are taken in before then, with a return to training set to be made in early July, then Haaland could take in his first appearance for new employers on American soil.
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Who will Erling Haaland make his Premier League debut for Man City against?
The plan for City and Haaland will be to get their elaborate new recruit up to speed before competitive action resumes.
As defending Premier League champions, the Blues will finish their pre-season schedule with a Community Shield date with Liverpool at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on July 30.
That contest will present Haaland with an opportunity to get his hands on a first trophy in English football, before the real business of collecting Premier League points begins a week later.
City will be expected to unleash their big-money frontman on top-flight rivals from the opening weekend, with the Norway international charged with the task of leading their line.
Guardiola’s men have discovered that they will kick-off the 2022-23 campaign away at West Ham on August 6, meaning that Haaland’s first minutes in the English top-flight could come at the London Stadium.
