Stale Solbakken, Norway's head coach, has firmly rejected claims that Manchester City requested the national team to protect Erling Haaland from queries about the club's financial situation.
Leading up to their Nations League clash with Portugal, Haaland was expected to attend a press conference but ultimately did not appear before reporters. NRK commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt suggested that the absence was due to a request from Manchester City.
Saltvedt stated:
No one believes anything other than that it was Manchester City who asked the Norwegian Football Association to shield their star player from questions he would have faced.
However, Solbakken vehemently rejected this narrative:
Hand on heart, I can say that Saltvedt is talking absolute nonsense from start to finish. I have not discussed media relations with anyone from Manchester City since Erling moved from Borussia to City. That was the last time I spoke to the club on that issue.
The Norway coach also stressed that such allegations undermine his integrity:
This is a lie. Moreover, statements like this call into question my honesty. I try to be as open as possible because this is the national team of the whole country. But I will not tolerate lies from one of Norway's largest media outlets.
In response, Solbakken even offered to share his correspondence and call history:
He can take my phone and Morten Schonsberg's, our press attaché, and read all the messages, emails, and check the calls. Then he will see that this is all rubbish.
According to the coach, the decision to free Haaland from the press conference was his own and not discussed with the striker beforehand:
This was my decision. I didn't even notify Erling. I just told him: “You can skip it. If you want to go, go, but I’m granting you the freedom.”
This discussion has arisen amidst ongoing reports about Manchester City's financial scandal. Notably, a final decision regarding any potential punishment for the club has yet to be announced.
