Manchester City’s new star responds to Haaland’s World Cup mockery
Manchester City midfielder Elliot Anderson has addressed comments made by teammate Erling Haaland on social media, following a contentious incident during the recent World Cup. Haaland had reportedly mocked Anderson on Instagram, referring to him as “The diver?” in a reply to a fan.
Anderson, 23, confirmed he had seen the post, noting its widespread circulation. He described Haaland’s comment as humorous and acknowledged that the Norwegian striker had been supportive during pre-season training. Anderson stated that Haaland was “completely honest” with him and described him as “a really good guy.”
World Cup Incident and Aftermath
The social media exchange stemmed from an incident during the World Cup quarter-final match between Norway and England, which England won 2-1. During the game, with the score level at 1-1, Norway appeared to take the lead through a goal from Torbjørn Heggem after a corner. However, the goal was disallowed by VAR.
Officials determined that Haaland had pushed Anderson to the ground, leading to the goal being overturned. This decision reportedly angered the Norwegian public. While some fans suggested Anderson went down too easily, others believed Anderson had initiated contact with Haaland.
Haaland himself publicly called the VAR decision “poor.” Despite the on-field tension and subsequent social media banter, reports indicate there is no lingering animosity between the two players. Both Anderson and Haaland were present for pre-season training.
Manchester City acquired Anderson, an England international, for £116 million. The club hopes his addition will help them reclaim the Premier League title. Haaland, who won last season’s Coca-Cola Premier League Golden Boot, returned to Manchester City after scoring seven goals for Norway in the World Cup, where his country reached the quarter-finals.
Haaland posted “Back in sunny Manchester!” on social media upon his return to the club. Other players, including Enzo Fernandez, Malo Gusto, and Reece James, also reported back for duty with Chelsea. New signings such as Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson, Valentin Barco, and Maxence Lacroix trained with Chelsea for the first time.
Arsenal welcomed back their Spanish World Cup winners Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi, alongside English players Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke. David Raya and Bukayo Saka also returned to Arsenal last week.
Other Player Returns and Transfers
Several Premier League players have returned to their clubs following their World Cup commitments, with some showcasing new hairstyles. Bukayo Saka debuted a braided haircut at Arsenal, while Dan Burn of Newcastle United sported a slicked-back look. Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool initially teased a new long hairstyle on Instagram before revealing a shaven head following hair transplant surgery.
In transfer news, Pep Chavarria has joined Chelsea from Rayo Vallecano, signing a five-year deal. The 28-year-old Spanish left-back made his top-flight debut at 24 with Rayo Vallecano. Gustavo Hamer has also rejoined Coventry City, having previously played for the club from 2020 to 2023, scoring 19 goals in 132 appearances.
Matthias Jaissle, the new manager for Newcastle, has already had a special song created by supporters. Crystal Palace defender Oscar Mingueza, who joined last month from Celta Vigo, impressed teammates with his piano skills. Additionally, Crystal Palace confirmed the return of forward Evann Guessand on a season-long loan from Aston Villa, with an option to buy, after he spent the latter half of last season on loan at Selhurst Park.
Source: goal.com
