Erling Haaland is starting the new Premier League season with a look that is just as shocking as his goal scoring record. The Manchester City powerhouse has officially bid farewell to his signature long hair, opting instead for a stark buzz cut that sent social media into a frenzy on Sunday. While fans grew accustomed to seeing the Norwegian striker’s flowing locks trailing behind him during sprints across the pitch, the new streamlined appearance suggests a fresh start for the athlete.
The dramatic change did not immediately translate to magic on the field, however. Despite City securing a two to one victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, Haaland struggled slightly in front of goal and missed several clear opportunities. He initially tried to keep the surprise under wraps by arriving at the stadium in a baseball cap, but once he stripped it off for the pre match warmups, there was nowhere left to hide the drastic trim.
The makeover quickly caught the attention of some big names in football. In a clip shared on Haaland’s own YouTube channel, Zlatan Ibrahimovic teased the striker about whether he had lost a bet, jokingly asking if removing all that weight from his head would actually make him faster. Even former manager Pep Guardiola weighed in with his trademark humor, noting that Haaland is simply lucky to have any hair at all while lamenting his own lack thereof.
