It’s not every day you look over to the padel court next to you and see Erling Haaland.
But for talkSPORT host Simon Jordan, that’s exactly what transpired when he was on holiday in Marbella.
However, it was an experience that left Jordan with a sour taste as he discussed the importance of humility within football.
Haaland’s attitude has come into focus after his actions in the aftermath of Manchester City‘s dramatic 2-2 draw against Arsenal last Sunday.
He pegged a ball at the back of Gunners defender Gabriel’s head after John Stones’ equaliser, told Mikel Arteta to ‘stay humble’ and called Gabriel Jesus a ‘f****** clown’.
Read more on Erling Haaland
The Norwegian also smashed into Thomas Partey immediately after the restart following Stones’ last-gasp goal.
Given Haaland’s remarkable goalscoring record since moving to Manchester City, which has continued this season with 10 goals from five league games, he is entitled to talk the talk.
But his unprompted ‘stay humble’ remark to Arteta has caused significant debate.
For Jordan, he anticipates Haaland may look back on his behaviour with a tinge of embarrassment, especially given his own encounter with the striker in Spain.
“I think he’s a remarkable footballer and he can back it up,” ex-Crystal Palace chairman Jordan told talkSPORT.
“I think as you get older, you get wiser. You do realise that there are times that ultimately you can behave in a certain way, you don’t need to be fully of yourself. Because you realise you are as good as you know yourself to be.
“I bumped into him in Marbella. He was playing on the padel court next to me. I was texting someone that’s a huge Man City fan, saying, ‘You’ll never guess who’s on the court next to me.’
4
“Out comes this saucy little sod saying, ‘I don’t want any pictures taken.’ I said, ‘Of what?’ He said, ‘Of me’.
“I said, ‘Why would I be taking a picture of you, you silly sod? I’m playing padel tennis’.
“I spoke to his dad [Alf-Inge Haaland] and his dad was lovely. I walked away thinking, ‘Hmm, not sure about you’.”
Nine-time England international Danny Murphy asked Jordan if it was simply ‘a sign of the times’.
Jordan was unsure, but issued Haaland a warning to not ‘lose sight of the reality of what you are’.
“If I’m a 21-year-old or 22-year-old footballer and you’ve got a guy playing on another court who is an older man, maybe a bit of respect is probably the way you should behave,” Jordan said.
“I don’t know. But the fact of the matter is, what he is is a remarkable footballer. He can back it up. But somewhere along the line, you will get caught short if you lose sight of the reality of what you are. You’re just a footballer.
“You’re a very good footballer, you’re not a panacea to the world’s problems, you don’t get to stroll around being facetious and sarcastic with other people. I don’t think it’s a particularly good look to talk to another manager the way he appears to have done.”
As for Murphy, he felt Haaland’s ‘humble’ jab at Arteta was ‘strange’ and something he ‘doesn’t really want to see’.
“He’s the manager of the opposition, he was walking on the pitch and minding his own business,” Murphy said.
“Haaland doesn’t need to be telling the Arsenal manager how to behave. Walk off the pitch, you’ve just nicked a draw, get off, you’ve just scored again.
4
4
“A little bit humble is good. I think in terms of on the pitch with other players, having a bit of banter with Gabriel, standing your ground, facing up to people, I don’t mind all that. That says he’s got a bit about him.
“You don’t have to be meek and mild on the pitch. You can be as confident and arrogant as you want if you’re delivering.”
Despite Haaland’s controversial acts against Arsenal, he has escaped any retrospective punishment.
VAR also reviewed Haaland’s ball-throwing incident but deemed no action was required.
The Norwegian’s focus now switches to City’s trip to St. James’ Park on Saturday as they face Newcastle, who are coming off their first loss of the season against Fulham.
