Rio Ferdinand has warned Erling Haaland he will need to leave his ego at the door and prepare for a bedding-in period at Manchester City.
City were crowned Premier League champions for the fourth time in five seasons on Sunday, but their era of dominance shows no sign of ending with Haaland’s imminent arrival making them an even more formidable force.
Pep Guardiola clinched the title without a recognised striker last term, but will now be able to call upon one of the most feared attackers in world football. In 89 games for Borussia Dortmund, the 21-year-old scored a stunning 86 goals and he will be expected to hit the ground running at City.
But Ferdinand has suggested that the example of Jack Grealish’s first season shows it’s not unreasonable to anticipate a period of adjustment to Guardiola’s methods. Grealish signed for City in a deal worth £100million last summer, but has thus far struggled to replicate the form he showed at Aston Villa.
That could be the same for Haaland, according to Ferdinand, who believes the Norwegian will need to show the same levels of humility his new team-mate has portrayed. Speaking on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Ferdinand disclosed a chat he held with Grealish which made it clear just how difficult playing under Guardiola can be.
“He told me there's so much more to think about going into a team that's prepared by Pep Guardiola. You give him a year, now he's probably got a better understanding of it," he explained.
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“That's why next season we'll see the Jack we know he can be. There could be a bedding-in period where we don't see the Haaland we expect to see immediately.”
The United icon added: “What Pep's had with City when big players have come in, they get a bedding-in period. It's an understanding: this is hard, you don't hit the ground running all the time.
“The biggest part of that is the humility of the players that struggle. They don't moan and kick up a fuss. That's where Haaland has to play his part if it doesn't go right. Suppress any ego... the bigger picture is not disturbing the morale of the squad.”
Guardiola himself isn’t too worried about an acclimation period for Haaland, insisting he isn’t a signing that’s been made for short-term and will instead benefit the club for years to come.
He explained: “I’m pretty sure about Haaland. But to give you a real opinion I have to work with him first. When he scores this amount of goals it's because he’s good. But especially important is that he is arriving in a new country, a new house and new friends.
“All these kinds of things he has to adjust to. That’s why before he starts here he should have a good holiday, prepare well, and come with no injuries to work and play with us.
“If it takes weeks, great. If it takes months, great. He hasn’t come here for two, three months, he’s come for many years I hope. So if he needs more time, we give him more time. We'll try to help him and I’m pretty sure he’ll try to help us so I don’t have any doubts about that.”
