'A normal player' - Man City told why Erling Haaland is NOT world-class as ex-Tottenham star rubbishes comparisons with Ruud van Nistelrooy

Haaland has broken all kind of records with his goalscoring exploits since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022. The Norway international has 75 goals and 13 assists in 79 Premier League appearances for Pep Guardiola's side and currently tops the scoring charts in the English top flight for 2024-25 ahead of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.

Despite his goalscoring heroics, Haaland has been criticised during his time in England for a lack of involvement in build-up play. Former Tottenham and Real Madrid star Rafael van der Vaart has now shared his thoughts on the striker and feels he lacks the qualities needed to be deemed the best in the world at his position.

Van der Vaart said on The LineUp, a new show brought to you by BetMGM and talkSPORT: "Take away his pace, I see Erling Haaland as a normal player. Technique-wise, he’s not good enough and he can get away with it when City are on form but not when they’re struggling. I just think he’s missing something that those top, top strikers have. I might get criticised for that opinion, but I don’t see him at the same level as the top strikers I played with, like Ruud van Nistelrooy. Manchester City need Erling Haaland at the moment, but where is he? That’s why he’s not among that select few world-class strikers."

The former Premier League ace added on City's recent struggles for consistency: "I think the intensity that Man City have shown under Pep Guardiola for so many seasons is over. They look very tired to me. You can see it in their faces, Kevin De Bruyne for example, they’re not fresh anymore. They need a rebuild. I’m not one who says they need to get rid of Pep, no chance. I believe in his coaching methods but they need to get their transfers right - Ilkay Gundogan was not what they needed in the summer.”

Haaland has failed to score in his last two Manchester City games in the Premier League, with Guardiola's side currently on a dismal run of seven matches without a win in all competitions. The Cityzens will hope to snap that sequence on Wednesday against Nottingham Forest.