Hungry Haaland Ready to Feast Again as Man City Gear Up for Club World Cup

From Lobster to Goals: Erling Haaland Primed for Redemption

Erling Haaland’s summer has had all the right ingredients: a bit of lobster, a few goals, and a burning desire to put last season behind him. After jetting off for some well-earned downtime at the end of a difficult 2024-25 campaign, the Manchester City striker quickly returned to business with Norway, where he reminded the world of his insatiable appetite for goals—netting against Italy and Estonia to give his country a real shot at qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998.

Now, with the Club World Cup fast approaching, Haaland finds himself licking his lips again—but this time, it’s not just about food. It’s about goals. Lots of them.

A Painful Dip Before the Feast

Erling Haaland

Haaland’s third season at Manchester City wasn’t quite the blockbuster fans had come to expect. Injuries disrupted his rhythm—an ankle issue in March saw him miss six weeks—and when he returned in May, something was off. The hunger, sharpness, and swagger that defined his record-breaking start in English football had dulled. He even passed up a penalty in the FA Cup final, leaving pundits like Wayne Rooney to speculate whether the striker was feeling the pressure.

He ended the season with 31 goals in all competitions, including 22 in the Premier League. That might be enough for most strikers, but by Haaland’s sky-high standards, it was underwhelming. Third place in the Golden Boot race and zero trophies left the Norwegian declaring the season “catastrophic.” He didn’t mince his words when speaking to ESPN: “I haven’t been good enough. The team hasn’t been good enough. We haven’t had the hunger.”

New Faces, New Firepower

Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City 2024-25

If hunger was the missing ingredient last season, then City’s summer transfer window has been all about restocking the pantry. A £110 million spending spree has brought in Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Ait-Nouri—three exciting new arrivals designed to give Pep Guardiola’s side a fresh attacking edge, and, more importantly, help get Haaland firing again.

Cherki is perhaps the most thrilling of the trio. The Frenchman, long hailed as one of Europe’s top young talents, arrives after a breakout season at Lyon where he registered 31 goal contributions across all competitions. His flair, vision, and audacity have drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi in the past. At City, he’s expected to inherit Kevin De Bruyne’s role as Haaland’s chief supplier—no small task, but one that Cherki seems ready to embrace.

Then there’s Reijnders, the dynamic Dutchman from AC Milan. After being named Serie A’s Best Midfielder last season, he brings goals, drive, and a box-to-box energy that City sorely lacked in 2024-25. Guardiola will be hoping Reijnders can channel his Ilkay Gündogan-like qualities to steady the midfield and provide an extra scoring threat.

Finally, Ait-Nouri arrives to reinvigorate the flanks. The Algerian full-back contributed 11 goal involvements for Wolves last season and offers the kind of width and directness that Haaland thrives on. In recent years, City’s full-back play has lacked bite—Ait-Nouri could change that.

Haaland Still City’s Best Hope

Rayan Cherki Manchester City 2025-26

Despite his injury troubles and the overall team dip last season, Haaland was still City’s leading light. The real issue wasn’t just his form, but the disappearance of his usual supporting cast. Phil Foden, so electric in 2023-24, faded badly with just seven goals and two assists. De Bruyne was injury-hit and assisted Haaland only once all year. Julian Alvarez, previously a key contributor, left for Atletico Madrid, and Rodri, the team’s midfield anchor, missed most of the campaign with a long-term knee injury.

Now, though, the cavalry has arrived—and Rodri too. The Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder is back fit and firing after missing 240 days. His return doesn’t just plug a hole in midfield—it restores the aura of invincibility City had lost in his absence. With Rodri back, Reijnders buzzing, Cherki weaving magic, and Ait-Nouri bombing down the flanks, Haaland will once again have the kind of service he craves.

The Club World Cup: A Fresh Start

Tijjani Reijnders Manchester City 2025

Manchester City kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia. On paper, it’s the perfect fixture for Haaland to get back into the groove. Wydad may be Morocco’s most decorated side, but City should have little trouble dispatching them.

Next up? Al Ain, the 2024 Asian Champions League winners. Another game where Haaland could realistically target a brace—or even a hat-trick. It’s these early fixtures that will be crucial in building confidence and momentum before the inevitable heavyweight clash with Juventus, which could decide who tops the group and avoids Real Madrid in the knockout stages.

A smooth passage through the group could lead to a favourable last-16 tie against the likes of Red Bull Salzburg, Pachuca, or Al-Hilal. From there, a potential quarter-final against Inter looms, followed by a semi-final test against Bayern Munich or Atletico Madrid. The dream final? Perhaps a showdown with Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid at the MetLife Stadium.

Haaland’s Redemption Arc

Rayan Ait-Nouri Man City 2025

There’s a distinct sense of unfinished business in the air around Manchester City. The sting of a trophyless season still lingers, and Haaland’s desire to silence the doubters burns brighter than ever. He chose not to jet off on vacation after international duty, instead opting to stay with City’s physios and prepare for the season ahead. “We need to find something inside our stomach again to attack the season,” he said.

This is the mentality that City’s hierarchy loves to see. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak couldn’t hide his excitement in his end-of-season interview: “Erling didn’t want to go on vacation. He wanted to stay and work. That’s exactly why I’m so positive. We’re going to come back strong—with a lot of positivity.”

The World Has Been Warned

Guardiola has a history of bouncing back with a vengeance. The last time he ended a season without silverware, City returned with a record-breaking 100-point campaign. The Club World Cup might not be the most prestigious prize in football, but right now, it’s the ideal stage for a team—and a striker—determined to prove a point.

Haaland is hungry again. And when Haaland’s hungry, defenders beware.