“I consistently observe him – Haaland highlights crucial aspects he’s learned from Ronaldo.”

Manchester City’s star striker, Erling Haaland, credits Cristiano Ronaldo for enhancing his goal-scoring prowess by focusing on a crucial aspect of his game.

Since his arrival at the Premier League champions from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, the 23-year-old Haaland has made a significant impact. In the previous season, he netted an impressive 52 goals and contributed nine assists in 53 appearances, guiding Pep Guardiola’s team to victory in the Champions League, FA Cup, and the Premier League.

In the current season, the Norwegian international has continued his prolific form, registering 17 goals and four assists in 16 matches across various competitions for City.

During an interview with TV 2 experts Simen Stamso-Moller and Jesper Mathisen, Haaland highlighted the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo on his improved heading ability. He emphasized Ronaldo’s strategic movements in the box, making two or three calculated moves before exploiting the desired space.

Haaland explained, “It’s kind of a duel in that situation with the centre-backs. It is important to time it perfectly. And the cross must be good. If you don’t get a good cross, you won’t be able to score with your head.”

Reflecting on Ronaldo’s career progression, Haaland commended how the Portuguese star evolved from his early days at Manchester United to becoming a prominent striker at Real Madrid. He expressed admiration for Ronaldo’s ability to score goals through subtle movements in the box, deceiving defenders effectively. Haaland acknowledged the significance of these small yet decisive actions in Ronaldo’s goal-scoring success.