Erling Haaland is one of the good guys! Man City star forks out £13k to cover Bryne fans' travel costs ahead of huge play-off fixture for his former club

In a heartwarming gesture, the Manchester City goal machine sponsored the traveling expenses of 200 Bryne fans ahead of his former club's Norwegian First Division play-off clash against Start on Saturday - as per The Mirror. Haaland spent exactly £13,100 (or 175,000 Norwegian Krone) on train tickets and also vowed to pay for bus tickets of any fan who opts not to travel by train.

Bryne's press spokesperson, Ole Morten Hobberstad, has said of Haaland's gesture: "It's nice that Erling wants to sponsor a trip for the Bryne supporters, it's something the whole of Bryne really appreciates. It also contributes to the fact that several people who perhaps did not prioritize it in the first place due to price growth and interest rate increases are now travelling to support Bryne in the promotion qualification."

Haaland graduated from the Norwegian club's youth academy and made his senior debut for them during the 2016-17 season. After spending half a season at Bryne, the towering forward moved to Molde in February 2017. He later played for Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund before moving to the Premier League to join Manchester City in the summer of 2022. He made an incredible impact in his first season at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 52 times during City's run to the treble, and has hit another 17 goals in the early months of the 2023-24 campaign.

The Norway star suffered an ankle injury on international duty and missed his team's final Euro 2024 qualifying game against Scotland. Fortunately for Man City, Haaland has recovered and will be available to play in their crucial Premier League encounter against Liverpool on Saturday.