Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola could face uncertain futures at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland is speeding up talks with Barcelona as he looks for a way out of Premier League champions Man City, according to reports.
The Citizens initially made a positive start to the new campaign but they have now only won one in their last 12 matches in all competitions.
Search UTANG MFIN UTANG MFIN SportBallon d’Or 2025: Lamine Yamal 6th, Raphinha 3rd, Vinícius 2nd… Discover the Full RankingPublished 41 seconds ago on December 25, 2024By ENOCH The Ballon d’Or 2024 has once again sparked intense debates and emotions among football enthusiasts, as Rodri of Manchester City claimed the prestigious accolade. The Spanish midfielder edged out Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr, who finished second, while Barcelona’s Raphinha secured a surprising third-place finish. However, the ceremony was overshadowed by Real Madrid’s boycott in protest against what they perceived as the unfair exclusion of their Brazilian superstar. Rodri’s triumph comes after a stellar season with Manchester City, where his pivotal role in midfield contributed to the team’s domestic and European dominance. Yet, the midfielder will not be defending his title next year due to a knee injury suffered in September, effectively sidelining him for the rest of the season. This development sets the stage for a new race to football’s most coveted individual honor. Unlike the previous two campaigns, the 2024-25 season lacks a major international tournament, meaning that the Ballon d’Or will hinge solely on club performances. The newly revamped Club World Cup could add an intriguing layer to the competition, potentially elevating players who excel in this global stage. This shift broadens the field, allowing stars who might not shine as brightly for their national teams to contend. A Detailed Look at the Rankings The full ranking reveals some surprises, particularly with young talents and established stars jockeying for position. Among the highlights: 15th place: Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP) earned recognition for his consistency in Portugal. 14th place: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) continues to impress with his performances in the Premier League. 13th place: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) remains a crucial figure for his club. 12th place: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) had an electrifying start to the season but fell short in the final rankings. 11th place: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), despite his goal-scoring prowess, finds himself outside the top 10. The top 10 features both established legends and emerging superstars. Florian Wirtz (10th) and Cole Palmer (9th) represent a new generation making their mark on the European stage. Harry Kane (8th) and Kylian Mbappé (7th) maintain their status as global icons. Barcelona dominates the list with Lamine Yamal (6th), Robert Lewandowski (5th), and Raphinha (3rd) showcasing the club’s resurgence under their current management. A Tight Contest for the Top Spots Vinícius Jr’s second-place finish underscores his phenomenal contributions to Real Madrid this season. The Brazilian winger dazzled with his pace, creativity, and clinical finishing, yet fell just short of claiming the ultimate prize. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, however, rose above the competition to secure the top spot. His performances have been nothing short of extraordinary, combining relentless consistency with moments of brilliance to lead the Reds. Salah’s achievement reflects his enduring impact in the Premier League and Europe, marking him as one of the greatest players of his generation. His victory also highlights Liverpool’s resurgence under Jürgen Klopp’s long-term successor, signaling a new era for the club. Looking Ahead to 2025 With Rodri out of contention, the 2025 Ballon d’Or race promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Players like Vinícius Jr, Mbappé, and Salah are likely to remain frontrunners, while young stars such as Lamine Yamal and Florian Wirtz could break new ground. The expanded Club World Cup provides an additional platform for these players to shine, potentially shaping the final outcome.
‘Erling is so important for us’ | Pep…
It’s an unprecedented run of form for a Guardiola side with Man City winning the last four Premier League titles on the bounce.
Man City are currently seventh in the Premier League and now only five points ahead of Man Utd, who they lost 2-1 nine days ago in the Manchester derby.A report last week insisted that Haaland – who has scored 18 goals in 24 appearances this season – is losing patience with the project at Man City despite Guardiola recently signing a new contract.
It added that Haaland ‘can’t stand Pep Guardiola any longer and asks to speed up negotiations’ with Barcelona ahead of a potential transfer.
And now reports in Spain claim that Haaland has ‘stepped up talks’ with Barcelona as the Norwegian is ‘starting to get tired of the current situation’ at Man City.
Their terrible run of form, the Premier League’s FFP case against the club and uncertainty over a number of players in the squad has led Haaland ‘to consider a change of scenery in the next summer market’.Haaland ‘has already finished his adventure’ at Man City and the 24-year-old ‘has rejected all the offers of an extension that have been presented to him so far, and has already dared to contact several entities that could try to sign him’.
Barcelona ‘continues to be one of his favourite destinations’ and with a move to Real Madrid ‘completely ruled out, due to the presence of Vinicius Junior or Kylian Mbappe, who would take away his prominence, his desire now is to end up at the Camp Nou’.
Haaland and his camp have now ‘resumed talks with Joan Laporta and Deco to end up at Barca, and be the galactico who arrives in 2025’.
Paul Pogba has been linked with a sensational move to Manchester, but with Man City, and former Man Utd strikerLouis Saha reckons their potential interest could force the Red Devils to think about re-signing the Frenchman.
“It’s a difficult one. An agent, or somebody that doesn’t fully understand the Manchester City and Manchester United rivalry, would tell him to make that move because it’s a huge club and it could help him get back into the France squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“I wouldn’t want him to go there because I’m a Manchester United fan and I don’t really believe that the move makes sense for Paul because he’s a loyal guy. At the same time, it’s a huge opportunity for him and I wouldn’t blame him if he took the opportunity because it’s his career.
“I hope it’s just rumours and I hope that it will make Manchester United consider re-signing him. He’s always been able to provide goals and assists and he’s alwayshad quality. He’s an unpredictable player and I’m sure the likes of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte would love to play with him because he’s able to pick a pass.”
