"It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football," said Erling Haaland when he announced his investment in the Total Chess World Championship this week. "You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead. Strategy and planning are everything." The Manchester City striker’s strategy cannot be faulted except at one stadium in particular: Wembley.
Known for his clinical finishing and dominance in the Premier League, Erling Haaland is now turning his attention to the board game world. The 25-year-old has been announced as a key investor in Norway Chess, the organisation behind the newly launched Total Chess World Championship Tour, which is set to debut next year with the backing of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has moved to calm fears regarding the fitness of Erling Haaland following the striker's early withdrawal against Real Madrid. The Norwegian was taken off with over half an hour remaining as City suffered a disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of the Spanish giants.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered a staunch defence of Erling Haaland, claiming the striker occupies "the most difficult position on the planet" after another scoreless outing against West Ham. The Norway international has seen his usually prolific output stall in 2026, a stark contrast to his blistering start to the campaign.
The numbers behind Erling Haaland's recent performances make for grim reading by his own sky-high standards. After a blistering start to the campaign that saw him net 19 times in his first 17 Premier League appearances, the goals have dried up significantly. The striker has now managed just three goals in his last 12 league outings, a run of form that has left pundits stunned.
Joan Laporta has hit out at presidential rival Victor Font for claiming he could sign Erling Haaland for Barcelona. The incumbent president accused Font of lying after the Manchester City striker's representative denied any contact with the Catalan club.
The most significant move in the race for the Barcelona presidency was made by Victor Font, who contacted Manchester City directly to bring Erling Haaland to the Blaugrana.
Erling Haaland's agent Rafaela Pimenta has responded to Victor Font's claim that Barcelona are "working on" a potential transfer deal for the Manchester City striker. Font, who is currently running against Joan Laporta for the Barcelona presidency, has suggested that Haaland could be lured away from the Etihad Stadium, but Pimenta has sought to quash any speculation over his future.
Within a Real Madrid squad that is packed full of Galacticos, Fede Valverde is rarely singled out for what he offers to Los Blancos despite his obvious importance to the team. On Wednesday, though, he was able to hog the limelight after his stunning first-half hat-trick saw off Manchester City in the Champions League. His performance also earned him the rarest of plaudits: A 10/10 rating from L'Equipe.
Joao Pedro has attributed his explosive recent improvement at Chelsea to the guidance of Liam Rosenior, following the manager's bold claims that the forward now rivals the likes of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. Since the coaching change at Stamford Bridge in January, the Brazilian has been spearheading the Blues' push for a top-four Premier League finish.
Manchester City supporters were met with a surprise on Saturday afternoon as the team sheets for their FA Cup fifth-round clash against Newcastle United were released. Absent from the matchday squad entirely was star striker Erling Haaland, raising immediate concerns over his fitness ahead of a pivotal run of fixtures for the club. The Norwegian forward has now missed two of the last three matches for the Blues.
Liam Rosenior believes Chelsea have finally found a world-class successor to Diego Costa. Following a stunning hat-trick against Aston Villa, the Blues boss claims Joao Pedro now belongs in the same bracket as the world's most elite finishers.
Manchester City twice threw away the lead to draw 2-2 at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, thus ceding ground in the Premier League title race to Arsenal. Antoine Semenyo and Rodri scored for Pep Guardiola's side but they were caught out twice in the second half by a pair of magnificent goals from England duo Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson.
Pep Guardiola has given an update on Erling Haaland's injury as Manchester City sweat on their top scorer's fitness before their Premier League clash at home to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. Haaland sustained a minor issue in training last Thursday, missing the 1-0 win at Leeds United. Haaland's availability was naturally the main talking point ahead of the game against struggling Forest.
