Erling Haaland sparks transfer rumors after sharing a moment with Morocco’s Hakimi and Diaz
Erling Haaland may not have left New Jersey with a victory, but the Manchester City striker certainly left fans talking after Norway’s 1-1 draw with Morocco in an international friendly.
Following the final whistle at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Haaland was seen catching up with several members of the Moroccan squad, sharing laughs and embraces with Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi. The interactions quickly made the rounds on social media, where supporters noticed just how comfortable and happy the Norwegian star appeared alongside the two Morocco internationals.
Erling Haaland sparks transfer rumors after sharing a moment with Morocco’s Hakimi and Diaz
The reunion with Hakimi was particularly notable. The two previously shared a locker room at Borussia Dortmund before the Moroccan defender moved on to Inter Milan and later PSG. Their friendship was evident after the match as they spent several moments chatting on the field, while Haaland also appeared to enjoy reconnecting with Brahim.
An intense match before the big tournament
Naturally, the images fueled speculation among fans, with many joking that the Premier League superstar was trying to recruit one or both players to England. While there is no indication that any transfer discussions took place, supporters could not resist imagining Hakimi or Brahim lining up alongside Haaland at Manchester City in the future.
The match itself finished level after Morocco took an early lead through Brahim, who blasted a right-footed shot into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area. Norway responded in the second half when Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard finished off a move created by Oscar Bobb to earn his side a 1-1 draw.
Despite the entertaining contest, Morocco left the match with some injury concerns after Noussair Mazraoui and Abde Ezzalzouli were both forced off before the final whistle, creating uncertainty ahead of the team’s World Cup opener against Brazil on June 13.
A team with technical ability to control games
Norway is back in the World Cup 28 years after their last men’s international appearance, and they do so in orderly fashion. Their impressive qualifying form, coupled with the presence of household names like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, has led the squad to be named Norway’s ‘Golden Generation’.
Norway relied on long-ball tactics at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, but head coach Stale Solbakken, who was a player at France ’98, favours a more cultured approach, building a side that uses its technical ability to control games and, despite being top-heavy with attacking talent, still retains balance.
Alexander Sorloth, an Atletico Madrid striker often drifts to the right wing out of possession but joins Haaland in the box when the team wins the ball, with Julian Ryerson, a Borussia Dortmund full-back, instead providing width on that flank.
