Joe Cole and Peter Crouch have given their thoughts on Erling Haaland's stunning new nine-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester City.
Haaland, 24, penned the blockbuster contract extension on Friday morning, believed to be one of the most lucrative sports deals of all time.
The Norwegian star will be 34 years old when his new contract expires, with all previous release clauses on his current contract – which was due to expire in the summer of 2027 – having been removed.
And former Premier League star Crouch admitted he was somewhat surprised by the nature of the contract, but mentioned one possible reason behind the move.
“I think it's a strange situation,” Crouch told TNT Sports ahead of Newcastle's match against Bournemouth.
'I don't know (why the contract is so long), there must have been rumors from potential people wanting to offer him that. I completely understand it from City's point of view.
'(It benefits) Man City (the most). They have retained its value, there are no escape clauses in it, so they retain its value for the next 10 years.
'He's not going backwards, he's just getting better. He has been an absolute revelation since he came to the Premier League.”
Crouch continued: “I think he will break every record. You look at Alan Shearer's 260 and it seems to be in danger now.
'He was quite happy when Harry Kane moved, but I think Haaland will break every record.'
Haaland was previously linked with reigning European champions Real Madrid, with repeated reports in Spain that release clauses had offered hope that a deal could be reached sometime in the future.
In fact, Mail Sport understands that his career plan involved a move to La Liga – with real admirers in the long term – and Haaland is said to have repeated that idea to his friends over the past two years.
But a new contract for ten seasons without these clauses is an important change of direction and a sign of intention. The 24-year-old then expressed his desire to create a legacy at City when he spoke after signing his new contract.
Haaland has scored 111 goals in 126 appearances for Man City in all competitions since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022.
The Norwegian was part of a crucial part of City's Treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, while he added the FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield last season, with the striker absent due to injury due to City's Club World Cup- success in December 2023.
And Cole echoed Crouch's view that the signing was brilliant news for City.
“That's an incredible coup for Manchester City,” he said. “If you think in context, where they are.
'They've fallen from the top spot, what's going on in the courts (with the alleged 115 financial charges with City denying any wrongdoing) and a manager who left but now he's staying.
'They are trying to rebuild and they need a point of support, someone who, if they go to the best players and say: 'come and play for Man City, we are going to take this club back to the top', they can say: “we have signed Europe's best goalscorer on a ten-year contract”.
“The statement about it… it's a fantastic business decision and I'm sure Mr. Haland won't have a shortage for the next 10 years.”
Both pundits praised Haaland – who has won back-to-back Golden Boots – for everything he has already achieved at City and believed the Norwegian would only break more records in the future.
“I've never seen a striker like him in my time,” Cole added. “This kid is like he was built in a laboratory to score goals.
Crouch said: “He is an incredible talent and a great player. With the right serve he will continue to score goals.
'I have a small record myself, the record for headed goals… I think that will be broken too.'