Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has responded to a persistent social media campaign led by an 89-year-old Instagram creator. The Norwegian forward, known for his concise online interactions, commented on a post by Rolf der Coole Opa, who had been documenting his attempt to get the footballer's attention for 11 days. In his post, the elderly creator wrote, "Day 11 of trying to get Haaland to comment," to which the Manchester City star simply replied, "Nice."
Haaland is currently enjoying an extended break following his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The tournament marked the first time the Vikings had qualified for the competition in 28 years. Haaland made a significant impact during the event, scoring seven times in five games as Norway reached the quarter-finals for the first time. His tournament highlights included a brace in a 2-1 victory over Brazil in the Round of 16, contributing to the South American nation's earliest exit in 36 years.
The striker is scheduled to rejoin his club for pre-season training at the Etihad on Wednesday, August 12, having been excluded from the team's earlier tour of Asia. Haaland is coming off a productive 2025-26 campaign where he recorded 38 goals in 52 matches across all competitions. While Manchester City finished second in the Premier League, seven points behind Arsenal, the club secured both domestic cups, defeating Arsenal in the EFL Cup final and Chelsea in the FA Cup. Haaland also netted eight times in 10 UEFA Champions League appearances, though City was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Real Madrid. The season marked the end of Pep Guardiola's tenure at the club, during which he accumulated 20 titles.
