Haaland ‘clearly doesn’t rate’ Man City summer signing

Robin Bairner

• 12 Nov 2022 22:04 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester City suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat at the hands of Brentford on Saturday that leaves them five points off the pace of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League at the World Cup break.

For once, Erling Haaland had a quiet game. The Norway star was restricted to just 21 touches of the ball over the course of a fixture that lasted 100 minutes due to injury time.

Little wonder, then, he allowed his frustration to show, with one Man City legend suggesting that his body language towards one of his team-mates was particularly poor.

MORE: Haaland worth €140 million? Brentford show Norwegian goal-machine can be stopped

Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan suggested that Haaland “clearly doesn’t rate” the young Argentine.

“You could see how frustrated Haaland was,” Whelan said. “Just look at his face when Alvarez delayed the pass and then passed behind him.

“Talk about dirty looks! Alvarez will feel Haaland doesn’t rate him, if he clocks that.

“It wasn’t Haaland’s best game, and he will be upset not just by the defeat but also by not scoring.

“Those are the incredible standards he sets, although the whole City team were off it today. Brentford deserved their win.”

MORE: Brentford’s Drogba shows he’s ready for the big time with Man City brace

Alvarez outshone by Haaland

Like Haaland, Alvarez is a new face at Manchester City this season, with the 22-year-old also have made an impressive start to life at the Premier League club. Although not as prolific as Haaland, he has chalked up seven goals in 20 appearances – roughly one for every 125 minutes he’s been on the field.

However, as Whelan intimated, he was guilty of making a loose pass when City had the opportunity to take the lead in the second half against the Bees.

Haaland, meanwhile, has made himself untouchable at Manchester City, although these are not the first time that he has been associated with showing a less than desirable attitude towards his colleagues, having previously been described as "a burden in the dressing room".