In an intriguing deviation from conventional football customs, Erling Haaland found himself in an unusual situation during a recent match against BSC Young Boys. The Manchester City striker was approached by the opposing team’s captain, Mohamed Ali Camara, during half-time, who made an unexpected request for Haaland’s shirt. Haaland initially responded with a surprised ‘you cannot do this,’ but eventually obliged, handing over his shirt to the defender before they parted ways.
While it’s common for players to exchange shirts at the end of a match, the practice of requesting an opponent’s jersey mid-game has become relatively uncommon in recent years. Haaland had already made his mark on the game with a goal, as Pep Guardiola’s team led 2-0 at halftime. He continued to shine in the second half, scoring a spectacular goal to make it 3-0, which ultimately sealed the 3-0 victory.
Amid the excitement of Haaland’s performance, TNT Sports co-commentator Ally McCoist humorously suggested, “You should ask him for his jersey after that one,” referring to Haaland’s incredible goal. Camara, who had the opportunity to mark Haaland during the game, was probably relieved to see the Norwegian striker substituted after scoring two goals.
Haaland was substituted in the 60th minute, making way for his fellow countryman Oscar Bobb. Manchester City is facing a challenging upcoming schedule with matches against Chelsea, Liverpool, and RB Leipzig in the Champions League. Next month, they will also face Tottenham and Aston Villa in what promises to be a demanding five-match run. Following their impressive 6-1 victory over Bournemouth, City reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League, further buoyed by Spurs’ loss to Chelsea, marking Ange Postecoglou’s first Premier League defeat.