Erling Haaland donates six-figure Viking book to hometown library | OneFootball

Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland has become involved in a remarkable 16th-century Viking saga, donating a record-breaking £100,000 manuscript to his hometown of Bryne.

While the 25-year-old forward is more commonly associated with shattering Premier League goalscoring records, his latest contribution focuses on preserving the ancient history of his roots.

Erling Haaland, who recently became the latest investor in the Norway Chess initiative, continues to leverage his global platform to bolster Norwegian cultural identity and youth education.

The aforementioned donation comes at a pivotal time in the striker’s season, as he continues to balance Manchester City’s Premier League title race with the club’s push for further Wembley appearances through the FA Cup off the back of their Carabao Cup Final success.

What has Erling Haaland donated to Bryne in Norway?

As per BBC Sport, Erling Haaland has donated a rare 16th-century manuscript of Viking sagas to his hometown of Bryne, after he and his father Alf-Inge purchased the manuscript for 1.3 million Norwegian crowns (£100,000) in December – a record for a book sale in Norway.

It is pointed out that the Haaland’s had purchased a 1594 printed edition of a work by 13th-century historian Snorri Sturluson, which tells medieval stories of Viking kings, queens, farmers and warriors.

As such, Erling Haaland and his father were in possession of the only surviving copy, which has now been handed to the library in Bryne to be displayed and made accessible to the general public.

Why has Haaland donated Viking stories to his hometown?

Speaking to Norwegian media, Erling Haaland explained, “I want the book always to lie open so that people can read about those who came from where I come from, from Bryne and Jæren.

“I’ve been lucky enough to live out my dream through football, and I know not everyone gets that chance. Books give so many more people the chance to dream big, see new possibilities and find their own path.”

What else is Erling Haaland doing behind-the-scenes?

Erling Haaland’s off-field focusses continue to work alongside his ongoing commitments to building his video brand on YouTube, producing exclusive content to highlight his own behind-the-scenes personality and out-of-football lifestyle.

Having produced content around Halloween and Christmas, as well as showcasing his lifestyle during the international break, Erling Haaland has also collaborated with British media sensations ‘The Sidemen’ to further bolster his online presence.

With Manchester City firmly embedded into a high-intensity pursuit of further silverware having taken the League Cup from Arsenal in March, it remains to be seen whether additional elements of Erling Haaland’s run-in will be documented for online publishing.