Phil Foden responds to Erling Haaland's passionate Man City message

Phil Foden responds to Erling Haaland’s passionate Man City message

Erling Haaland appeared in high spirits as Manchester City continued their preparations ahead of their next Club World Cup clash.

Pep Guardiola’s side are gearing up to face Al Ain on Monday (23 June) as they aim to build on a strong start in the tournament.

Man City opened their campaign with a convincing win over Wydad AC in the first group stage match, delivering a composed performance to secure an ideal start.

Phil Foden had a fantastic performance and set the tone early, finding the net within just two minutes and scoring the the fastest goal of the competition so far.

Haaland was introduced as a second-half substitute but wasn’t able to make a mark on the scoresheet, despite his usual sharp presence in the final third.

Still, the Norwegian striker seemed upbeat as City pushed forward with training, focused on progressing further in their bid for Club World Cup glory.

Haaland’s statistics in 2024/25. (Credit:Imago)

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Erling Haaland shares training update ahead of next Man City fixture

Haaland gave fans a glimpse into City’s preparations for their next Club World Cup fixture, sharing a series of images from their latest training session on Instagram.

The striker captioned the post: “My happy place” with the update quickly drawing reactions from teammates Foden and Ederson, as well as new signing Tijjani Reijnders, who made his debut for Man City in their opening match of the competition.

While the 2024/25 campaign has largely been one to forget for Guardiola and City supporters, Haaland has maintained his prolific form, scoring 31 goals across all competitions last season.

The Club World Cup now offers the club a fresh chance to claim silverware and recapture momentum ahead of the new domestic season. Alongside the competitive drive, the tournament also brings significant financial incentives.

Football Insider revealed that Manchester City could earn up to £90 million if they go on to lift the trophy, with the competition revamped and expanded to include more prize money for the eventual winners.

Man City consider Ilkay Gundogan exit amid Galatasaray interest

Gundogan could leave Man City (Credit Imago)

While Man City remain focused on Club World Cup success, their transfer business continues behind the scenes, with further changes expected at the Etihad.

Following Kevin De Bruyne’s confirmed departure, Ilkay Gundogan could now be the next high-profile name to leave the club.

Football Insider revealed Guardiola may allow Gundogan to leave, with Galatasaray interested in bringing the German international to Turkey.

With summer signing Reijnders already starting in the opening match of the tournament, there are suggestions that Gundogan could be moved into a more rotational role next season.

If a suitable offer comes in, it may mark the end of an era for another key figure from City’s title-winning core.

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