Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has made a dramatic change ahead of the new Premier League season by shaving off his trademark blonde locks to reveal a military-style buzzcut. The Norwegian international debuted his striking new look on social media alongside the simple caption: “New season, new trim.”
The sudden style shift marks a distinct departure from the long hair and iconic man buns that have characterized his appearance throughout his career in English football. Fans and teammates alike have been left reacting to the unexpected transformation as the club prepares for its upcoming fixtures.
Haaland will be hoping his fresh appearance brings even more goals as he aims to get off the mark when Enzo Maresca’s side face Bournemouth at 14:00 BST on Sunday, according to Yahoo Sports.
Behind the Transformation and Celebrity Reactions
Before heading to the clippers, the 26-year-old forward joked around by showing off some images of his previous hairstyles during his career, alongside some questionable ideas of how his new hair should look. Footage shared online captured him looking nervous as the hairdresser cut the first piece, though it did not take long for Haaland to start smiling about his new appearance.
As part of the reveal, the Manchester City star made video calls to several notable figures to gauge their reactions to his drastic haircut. Oasis musician Noel Gallagher approved of the change, remarking, “You look about 17 years old. It’s good. Change is good.”
Club teammate Jack Grealish and former manager Pep Guardiola were equally amused and supportive of the fresh aesthetic. “You look about 10 years old. That is hilarious. I can’t stop looking at the front of your hair. I love it,” Grealish said. Guardiola added, “No way. You’re lucky you have hair. I would love to have it. I love it.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Disapproval
Not everyone was quite as enthusiastic about the makeover. Before calling former Sweden international Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Haaland joked that the veteran striker had previously warned him never to cut his hair, believing that a player’s strength is tied to their locks.
It turned out Ibrahimovic was indeed unimpressed that Haaland had ignored that advice. “What did you do? You lost a bet or what? Block me and erase my number,” Ibrahimovic said upon seeing the buzzcut.
According to Yahoo Sports, Haaland had not worn his hair short in this fashion since his playing days at Borussia Dortmund.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
With the social media buzz surrounding his new look beginning to settle, attention now turns firmly back to the pitch. Haaland and Manchester City will look to channel any extra energy from the makeover into Sunday afternoon’s clash against Bournemouth.
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