Manchester City's prolific striker Erling Haaland has shown his softer side this Christmas, surprising the club's young supporters by delivering festive joy dressed as Santa Claus.
Haaland's Heartwarming Gesture
The 25-year-old Norwegian, who has been instrumental in Manchester City's Premier League campaign with 17 goals in the opening 16 games, traded the pitch for the streets of Manchester. In his latest YouTube video, Haaland revealed his love for the season, praising his 'authentic' red-and-white outfit as he set out to spread cheer.
"I love Christmas, I love the cosiness of Christmas – sitting inside and being with family and friends," the Etihad favourite said. This isn't his first foray into costume, having previously dressed as the Joker for Halloween.
Mission: Incognito (Mostly)
Determined to improve on his previous disguise attempt, Haaland went to great lengths to conceal his identity. A makeup artist applied bushy white eyebrows, a beard, and rosy red cheeks. He even stuffed a pillow under his coat and experimented with a Scouse accent, admitting to feeling nervous before the first door knock, comparing it to pre-match nerves.
The disguise, however, proved challenging to maintain. At one house, a child immediately recognised him, stating, "I've heard your voice on TV so I knew it was you." Haaland's response was to laugh and concede, "I need to work on the accent – that's the problem."
Festive Banter and Fan Reactions
The visit was filled with light-hearted moments. When one youngster confessed to being a Manchester United fan, Haaland-as-Santa quipped, "He's on the naughty list. It must be hard for United fans these days."
Reactions ranged from bedlam – with one child pretending to faint with excitement when Haaland revealed himself – to shrewd football analysis. Asked what City need to do to win the league, another fan simply said, "Pass it to you," prompting a laughing Haaland to tell the camera, "Smart kid."
Back to Business on the Pitch
The festive fun capped off another successful week for the superstar, who followed his Santa duties by scoring a brace in Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace. The son of former City player Alfie Haaland continues to be a pivotal figure in keeping Pep Guardiola's side in close contention with league leaders Arsenal this season.
