Erling Haaland has cited Cristiano Ronaldo as one of his major inspirations when growing up, with the Manchester City star now one of the Premier League's most feared strikers

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Erling Haaland has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo was one of his biggest inspirations when he was growing up.

Haaland is the Premier League's most-feared striker, having scored a record number of goals in his first season at Manchester City last year. He has followed that up by banging in 13 goals in 12 games so far this season to send City to the top of the table.

The Norwegian has worked under former star players such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola, both of whom turned to coaching after their retirement. But it is Ronaldo who Haaland has picked out as being one of his biggest influences.

He also starred for Portugal and is both the record appearance maker and record goalscorer in international football. But rather than his goals, it was his movement that most impressed the young Haaland as he was growing up.

"I remember always watching him on YouTube for his movements in the box: He used to make two or three moves before attacking the space he wanted to be in. It's kind of a duel in that situation with the centre-backs," he told TV2.

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Erling Haaland pointed to Cristiano Ronaldo's performances in his first spell at Manchester United as one of his biggest inspirations ( Image:

"You remember when he played in Manchester United and the first years in Real Madrid, to become more of a striker in Real Madrid. It is incredible for him that he manages. But also how he scores the goals. It is the small movements in the box, and being able to deceive the defenders."

It is clear that Haaland has picked up plenty from studying Ronaldo's game, with the Norwegian seen as arguably the world's best striker. His rivalry with Kylian Mbappe is expected to define the next era of football, as Ronaldo's own battles with Messi defined his.

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And Ronaldo has certainly been keeping tabs on the City star amid his rapid rise to stardom. Back in 2021, when Haaland was playing for Borussia Dortmund, the former United star picked him out as one of football's next superstars.

"It is hard to choose just one player to say this one will be the best. But I think it is exciting to see this new generation of young players, like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, who are coming through," he said.

"Some players can have one or two great seasons, the really great players are the ones that keep doing it season after season, and that is not so easy to do. It takes a lot of hard work, and a lot of commitment."

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