Erling Haaland’s Leeds United affection laid bare as England await Norway quarter-final | OneFootball

Leeds-born Erling Haaland and Norway face Thomas Tuchel’s England in a World Cup quarter-final in Miami tonight, kick-off 10pm. His bond with Leeds United has long been clear.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Haaland has said Norway’s run to the last eight has surprised him. Born in July 2000 during Alf-Inge Haaland’s spell with the Whites, he would have been eligible for England.

During his RB Salzburg days he said his ultimate dream was to win the Premier League with Leeds, to surpass his father and collect more international caps. He now has 54 caps and 62 goals, and sits third in the World Cup Golden Boot race with seven, one fewer than Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

He has scored three times against Leeds, and after his brace in City’s 3-1 win at Elland Road in 2022 he kept celebrations muted. “It was planned. I did not feel like cheering. I have respect for Leeds, where I was born,” he told VG.

In January’s Champions League tie against Galatasaray he appeared to direct a Leeds salute towards the crowd after a deft chip, almost 26 years on from the tragic events surrounding United’s UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000, when Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight were fatally stabbed in Istanbul. The clip was shared by TNT Sports, with many supporters praising the perceived gesture.

After May’s FA Cup final he responded to a “Leeds, Leeds, Leeds” chant while collecting his medal by smiling, pointing and saying “til we die”.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk