Erling Haaland Father Alfie Haaland has curiously reacted to Roy Keane calling his son a League two player after game with Bournemouth yesterday
Few were surprised when Haaland’s father, Alfie, responded by saying that the former Republic of Ireland international is now manipulating a story.
“Then you have the background of Keane and other specialists, who may have a little different objective,” he stated in an interview with Viaplay Fotball.
“They most likely believe that coming up with such critique is somewhat acceptable. Erling remains the team’s leading scorer, and the team prevails, so it can’t have been all that horrible.”
Throughout the 1990s, Haaland and Keane were on and off, with it being the former Leeds player who became irritated with Roy after a knee injury that set off a future rivalry.
Four years later, Keane punched Haaland in the leg during a Manchester derby.
Since Keane did not cause the long-term damage to his other knee that ultimately forced his career to stop, the accident did not lead to his later retirement from professional competition. Haaland and City did, however, briefly contemplate taking the incident to court.
Some time later, Keane acknowledged in his memoirs that he had planned intents against his adversary.
Alfie Haaland and Roy Keane compete for the ball.
Alfie Haaland and Roy Keane compete for the ball.
The Irishman opened his harsh assessment of Haaland with, “I don’t know what the big issue is, I give Erling Haaland praise every week, I give Manchester City credit, and I believe he’s a terrific striker.”
“However, he plays more like a League Two player overall. I’m glad that you disagree with me since I don’t expect everyone to.
“He never plays close to his potential on a weekly basis.
“I claimed that as a striker and goal scorer, the finest. He is the greatest striker and goal scorer in the world, but his other play is that of a League Two player. His link-up play, the way he lays the ball off, and sometimes the alternatives he offers his teammates or the ones he doesn’t give them.”
