Striker's return gives Maresca a timely boost
Erling Haaland is finally heading back to Manchester. The Norway striker has been on holiday since the World Cup ended, but he is due to rejoin his City teammates imminently.
According to The Athletic, players who featured in the latter stages of the tournament are expected to report for their first training session under Enzo Maresca on Wednesday. The club will then open its doors to supporters for an open session on Thursday.
Haaland will be among those reporting. He reached the quarter-finals with Norway — their best ever run at a World Cup — before England ended their involvement. Along the way he scored seven goals in five matches, posting the best goals-per-90 ratio of any player at the tournament who netted four or more. Not a bad way to spend a summer.
City's pre-season is already well underway, but Haaland has been absent while his teammates have been put through their paces. His return comes at a useful moment, with the 2026/27 Premier League season kicking off later this month.
The Norwegian finished last season with 27 Premier League goals, and there is a sense that the World Cup has only sharpened his edge.
The Blues face Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 16, before their league campaign begins against Bournemouth on August 23. Haaland's presence for both will be a relief to Maresca as he prepares for his first competitive fixtures in charge.