Exclusive: Erling Haaland Has the Ronaldo and Messi Trait and Keeps Improving With Age, says Paul Dickov

Manchester City legend Paul Dickov believes Erling Haaland is like a fine wine – he’s getting better with age.

The Norwegian marksman has been on fire for the Blues this season as they look to win back the Premier League crown from Liverpool.

Haaland has scored a stunning 36 goals in 27 games in all competitions this season, with 17 so far in 16 Premier League games and 23 in 20 games for City this term.

Since joining the club for £51.2million in May 2002, Haaland has bagged an incredible 102 goals in 113 Premier League games.

And in all the goal-hungry hitman has scored 147 goals in 168 games for the club in under four seasons at the Etihad Stadium. 

The stats are simply sublime and it's little wonder City wasted no time in offering the 25-year-old a lucrative long-term deal in January of this year to stay at the club until 2034.

“His goalscoring record is unbelievable, but it’s his mentality which is really impressive for me. It’s off the scale,” revealed Dickov, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com. 

“He does everything right. To come to City and score 52 goals in his first season was incredible, but then in his second season he scored over 30 and some people were saying it was a bad season – and the same again last season. Work that out."

“But he’s only 25 years old and I think people forget that. A lot of kids, when they’re breaking records at 22, 23, 24, they suffer a bit of lull."

INCREDIBLE DESIRE

“I’m not saying they get lazy or egotistical about it, I think it’s just natural that you have a little bit of a drop off where you don’t kick on again. But his desire is to get even better again is incredible."

“You look at the great players like Ronaldo and Messi, they just seem to get better as they get older."

“Erling just does everything he can to get better – and he seems to be getting better, which is crazy when you think about it."

“His hold-up play is better and I think he’s become more of a leader this season."

“On the pitch he’s demanded more of his teammates.”

Dickov enjoyed a distinguished career with City, first scoring 41 goals for the club across 155 appearances from August 1996 until his departure in February 2002, followed by a emotional second stint from May 2016 when he returned to his old hunting ground

And, arguably most famously, the talismanic striker scored a stoppage time equaliser against Gillingham in the League Two promotion play-off final, a goal which ultimately led to the club securing a memorable promotion to League One.

Dickov scored over 100 goals during a stellar career which began at Arsenal and saw him enjoy plenty of Premier League games for the Gunners, City, Leicester and Blackburn Rovers.

And now a respected pundit with Manchester City TV, the former Scotland international gets the chance to watch Haaland, week-in week-out, work his magic.

MAGICAL MADNESS

“It’s madness the number of goals he’s scored. But again I’ll put that down to his mentality,” added the 53-year-old.

“Erling’s got athleticism and power, and his speed is off the scale."

“If you could make the perfect striker then he would be it. You look at his goals, they come from everywhere. Left foot or right foot, headers and side foots, it doesn’t matter. He’s chipping the keeper, he’s got the whole array of talents."

“He scores all types of goals and he never gets frustrated. I know what it’s like having been a striker, not to his level, but as a centre forward if you don’t get the ball in a game you go looking for it."

“I watch Erling in games sometimes and he’s quite happy standing still, waiting for a chance. He’s quite happy not touching it and doesn’t get frustrated."

“But if you talk to all the top centre forwards down the years, well, if they’re not getting the service, then they will go looking for the ball."

“He’s just so calm and has the hunger and belief in himself to know that he hasn’t got to anything else because, when he gets the ball, he knows he’s going to score goals. It’s great to see.”