Does Erling Haaland’s renewal until June 30, 2034 make sense? In football, maxi extensions have often happened, almost never resulting in success. Or rather, perhaps initially they had a beneficial relief, a way to remunerate and satisfy a certain type of need. In the long run, however, it risks being a golden prison. Why will Haaland be the same in three years? And in five? Seven? The reality is that it is a way to advertise and to try to lock down a situation that risks becoming complicated. The Norwegian is certainly the best center forward in the world, but in football things change in three or four months. Imagine if Milan, in 2003, had protected Shevchenko until 2012. Very well until 2006, then a period of total decline. Yet he was a champion, one of the best of his era.
To stay in the Premier League, there is Alan Pardew. In 2012 it had renewed until 2020. And in 2014 came the exemption, with Pardew then ending up at Crystal Palace, WBA, CSKA Sofia and Aris of Thessaloniki. In short, very long renewals are not good. Maybe Haaland will be an exception.
These are Pep Guardiola’s words on the Norwegian’s renewal. “It’s the club’s trust in Erling. The club knows perfectly well how professional he is. His commitment every day and in every match to show his talent. And on his part, because in ten years we never know what will happen, it’s a period long. Always in a short career, what has to happen… happens. He has shown what he wanted. And I think he loves the club, the people around him, he loves being here I think he visualized that there’s no better place he could be in this moment or in the next ten years, I would say.”