Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the availability of Erling Haaland after he granted the forward compassionate leave – if he wanted it.
Haaland was told by Guardiola that he was be allowed time away from football following the death of Ivar Eggja – a family friend he affectionately called his ‘uncle’.
City face Brentford in Premier League action on Saturday, with Haaland bidding to score a hat-trick for the third game in a row after netting six in two games against Ipswich and West Ham.
He may miss the game, however, which will be the defending champions’ fourth game of the season, with the club top of the league table once again.
Guardiola, meanwhile, speaking ahead of the game, gave an update on his star man a little over 24 hours out from the match.
Pep Guardiola (right) has provided an update on the availability of Erling Haaland for this weekend
Erling Haaland (right) recently lost family friend Ivar Eggja (left), who died at the age of 59
The foward has scored a hat-trick in each of City’s last two Premier League games, but may not play this weekend
‘A tough time for him and his family,’ the Spaniard began. ‘Our thoughts are with him and his family and we’ll see tomorrow if he’s able physically and mentally to play.’
Haaland paid tribute to Eggja in an Instagram post on Thursday following his death at the age of 59.
Alongside several photos of himself and Eggja, Haaland wrote: ‘You are a legend, Ivar. Words cannot describe how much you meant to me! Words cannot describe how much you will be missed!
‘I don’t give a s***! I don’t give a s***! That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Thank you for everything, you madman. We will see each other again. Rest in peace, Ivar.’
Haaland trained with his City team-mates later on Thursday but Guardiola has made it clear that family comes before football and he will therefore allow his star striker to miss Saturday’s home game if he wishes to be elsewhere.
The 24-year-old – who has won the Golden Boot in each of the last two Premier League seasons – has scored seven goals in his first three top-flight appearances of the 2024-25 campaign.
After scoring once in a 2-0 win at Chelsea on the opening weekend, Haaland bagged back-to-back trebles in victories over Ipswich Town and West Ham.
Guardiola has regularly made it known that family comes before football at the club
Were he to score another trio of goals against Brentford on Saturday then Haaland would become the first player in Premier League history to hit hat-tricks in three consecutive games.
That feat has been achieved in England’s top division prior to the Premier League era but not since 1946.
In total, just four players have managed to score three hat-tricks in a row in England’s highest division.
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