“Hey guys” – Erling Haaland sends personal social media message to Manchester City and fans | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has sent a personal message to both Manchester City and the club’s fans following their support in a tough few weeks for the Norwegian.

Despite another stellar start to the competitive season for Manchester City, with a staggering 11 goals to his name across competitions, Erling Haaland and his family were struck with personal challenges in recent weeks following the death of close family friend, Ivar Eggja.

Haaland and those close to the Manchester City striker paid tributes on social media to Eggja, who passed away aged 59 in September, known as ‘uncle’ to the Norway international forward and was more than a best friend to his father, Alf-Inge.

Manchester City’s first-team circle also paid their own tribute to Eggja at the Premier League contest against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium, laying a wreath in his seat within Haaland’s corporate box at the arena.

A message from the club read, “In tribute to our much loved friend, Ivar. You brightened our days on a regular basis and it feels very strange we will not see you again.

“Your smile, soul and pure effervescence for life will always be remembered! Thank you for being part of our memories, from us all at Manchester City First Team x”

Now, Erling Haaland has sent a personal message of appreciation to both the football club as a whole, and his supporters across social media for their unrelenting support for both his personal circumstances and events on the field.

Writing across his social media channels this week, the Manchester City striker said, “Hey guys, just wanted to thank the club, the fans and everyone for all the support over the past couple of weeks. Let’s look ahead and focus on what’s next.”

It is understood that the entire first-team circle remained close to Erling Haaland during the week of Ivar Eggja’s passing, and teammate Manuel Akanji admitted to reporters that it was simply in the team’s nature to support a dressing room member.

“That’s what a team is for; we stick together and try to help each other out,” Akanji said last month. “It was Erling (Haaland) in this moment but we try to help each other out, lift each other. It’s not just the team-mates, it’s the whole club.”

Haaland was granted a period of leave by Manchester City during the week in which the club took on Watford in the Carabao Cup third round, with the funeral of the Ivar Eggja attended by the striker in Norway.