Erling Haaland admits months leading to Man City transfer "have been tough"

Erling Haaland has admitted the last few months have been "tough" in the build-up to his big-money move to Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund.

The 21-year-old is set to join the Citizens on July 1 after the clubs agreed terms for him to make the switch across to the Premier League, having spent the past two-and-a-half years in Germany. The transfer remains subject to the club finalising terms with the player.

There is no doubt Haaland will come to City with plenty of experience in the Bundesliga and in Europe, after scoring 86 goals in 89 appearances for Dortmund since joining from RB Salzburg in January 2020. However, he frequently struggled with muscular problems last season, limiting his game time and requiring him to spend plenty of time in the treatment room.

Upon his return to the side in late April, Haaland scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 defeat at Bochum, before scoring in his final game for Dortmund against Hertha Berlin on May 14. The former Molde prospect reflected on the closing chapter of his time at Westfalenstadion and insisted he gave everything for the Black and Yellows.

"[The last few months] have been tough. This thing, it hasn't been simple, at the same time I have been doing the best that I can for Borussia Dortmund for two and a half years," he told reporters, via ESPN. "It wasn't easy, but I've done the best I can for the club. I'm ready for four games [with the national team] and that makes me happy."

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes City have signed an "incredibly talented striker" in Haaland, while he also suggested that more players could be added to Pep Guardiola's squad.

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"Haaland, from his early days in Norway and then moving on to Dortmund, has been on our radar for at least four or five years," Al Mubarak said in an interview on City's website.

"He is a very, very unique, incredibly talented striker that I think the whole world has been looking at. I would say every big team in the world wanted [him] to join and we're absolutely delighted that Haaland chose to join Manchester City."

"I can confirm that there will be more players coming in. We are looking to strengthen the team in the areas that we need strengthening," Al Mubarak added. "As you know, every season some players leave, and then we have to continuously refresh the team. Again, we will always look at improving and strengthening.

"I think we've made two very important additions already, but I anticipate we'll be doing a couple more. We'll try to go as fast as we can, but you know how the market goes -- it's not always entirely in our control."