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Erling Haaland and Erik Botheim became friends while playing for Norway’s junior national team, and they also featured in a rap video together.
Erling Haaland was also among the nominees. (AP Photo)
Norway striker Erling Haaland may be one of the best players in the world, but he wasn’t in the room when the Ballon d’Or was awarded in Paris on Monday, preferring instead a trip to Sweden where his friend Erik Botheim won the league with Malmo FF.
The 24-year-old Manchester City striker was spotted in Malmo early on Monday evening ahead of their game against bitter rivals IFK Gothenburg whom they later beat 2-1 to secure a second straight Allsvenskan title and fourth in five years.
Haaland and Botheim became friends while playing for Norway’s junior national team, and they also featured in a rap video together with Erik Sandberg that has been viewed more than 12 million times on YouTube.
Haaland scored 27 goals in 31 matches as City retained their Premier League title last season. At the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony he finished as runner-up to Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
Haaland posted a picture on Instagram of himself wearing a Malmo jersey, which has the same light blue color as City’s shirt.
Malmo, eight points clear of Hammarby in the league table, have won the Swedish title a record 24 times. Because of the long winter, the Swedish league starts in the spring and ends in the fall unlike most of the European leagues.
With AP and Reuters Inputs
- Location :
Stockholm, Sweden
