Ronaldo, Zlatan among my idols as a child, says Haaland

Borussia Dortmund’s rising young star Erling Haaland has said that Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among his idols growing up.

“I had a lot of idols as a child. I have to mention two players: Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” the club’s official website quoted Haaland as saying.

“Always stay hungry. Always be on the lookout for goals and balls,” he said.

Asked how he is spending his time during the pandemic, Haaland said: “I coach and meditate a lot, and play FIFA with the guys.”

Haaland has made a whirlwind start to life at Dortmund since joinig the German club from Salzburg. He had scripted history in February after netting five times in his first two appearances for Dortmund.

The 19-year-old’s tally was the most by any Bundesliga player in their first three league matches.

German Football League (DFL) Chief Executive Christian Seifert has said that it is hoping to restart league football in the country on May 9 provided they get the green light from the country’s government.

The German football season was halted on March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After a meeting with the top clubs of Germany that comprise the top flight Bundesliga, Seifert told reporters in a video conference that while the league is ready to return next month, the final decision rests on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government.

Germany is among few countries in the world that has seen a reduction in the number of new cases of coronavirus infection over the past few weeks.

Seifert admitted however that holding matches behind closed doors may be the only feasible options in case the league restarts next month.

Agencies