Ferdinand reveals private Grealish conversation on Man City teammate who is ‘defender’s nightmare’
Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he had a conversation with Jack Grealish about Manchester City forward Erling Haaland earlier this week.
Haaland joined Man City last summer from Borussia Dortmund for around £52m. He has been in stunning goalscoring form this term as he has netted 33 goals in 34 games across all competitions.
But there are times when City struggle to get the best out of Haaland and the forward is left on the periphery of games. They are having to adapt this term as Pep Guardiola often decides against using a natural striker.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Haaland is ‘bored’ at Man City and he is desperate for Guardiola to alter their playing style.
The striker got an assist as Man City beat Newcastle United 2-0 at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking after this game, Ferdinand revealed that he has recently spoke to Grealish and the Englishman admitted that City need to do more to help Haaland.
“I spoke to Jack Grealish yesterday and he said ‘we can still give him the ball more’,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.
“I thought today there were two or three options really – especially in the first half – where they get into the pockets, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and he [Haaland] makes beautiful runs.
“They are defender’s nightmare runs but Haaland isn’t getting the ball at times. Maybe it’s not on, maybe because we are up here it looks like it’s on but I’m sure he will be having that conversation.”
Haaland’s agent – Rafaela Pimenta – has sent out a warning to Man City as Real Madrid would be “dreamland” for the forward.
“There is the Premier League. And there is Real Madrid. And Real Madrid has something of its own that makes it the Dreamland for the players. Madrid keeps this magic going. It doesn’t have the league competition but it does have the Champions League,” Pimenta said.
She added: “In my agency, we try to make a plan. We have to make a plan. We need to have a goal. Maybe we won’t achieve it but if don’t know where we’re going for sure we don’t get there.
“When we have a player, we make plans. Even if the player is 15 years old. We are planning out his career trajectory. When I started in this business, if I would say to a player ‘I’ll bring you to England’ the first thing they would say would be ‘what did I do wrong? Why don’t you like me?’
“But now, if I ask a player ‘what is your goal?’ he will say the Premier League. He doesn’t say City, Chelsea or Arsenal but the Premier League.”
READ MORE: Newcastle lack weapons to exploit the Haaland Paradox as Man City keep pressure on Arsenal
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