Martin Odegaard jokes he initially thought Erling Haaland was ‘a little b******’
‘You used to be a little b*****d!’ Martin Odegaard pokes fun at his Norway team-mate Erling Haaland and jokes he was ‘so childish’ when they were youngsters – as the Arsenal skipper prepares to face the Man City star in huge title clash
- Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland have shone in the Premier League this year
- The pair are team-mates for Norway after coming up through the ranks together
- However, the Arsenal skipper joked that they took time to become close friends
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Martin Odegaard has joked he initially thought Erling Haaland was a ‘little b******’ when he first met the Man City striker.
The pair have since become close friends after growing up in the Norwegian footballing ranks together.
They have arguably been the two best players in the Premier League this season, with Haaland scoring an astonishing 32 goals – which has equalled Mohamed Salah’s record from a 38-game season – while Odegaard has helped lead Arsenal to a surprise title challenge.
Haaland has been a revelation since moving to the Etihad in a £51m deal despite interest from Man United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG.
And in a documentary about how he came to joining City, entitled ‘The Big Decision’, Odegaard reflected on his relationship with the striker and opened up on his first impression of Haaland when they were called up for an Under 21 game against Germany in October 2018.
Martin Odegaard (left) has joked that he initially thought Norway team-mate Erling Haaland (right) was a ‘little b******’ when they first met (pictured on Norway duty back in 2019)
They have grown to become close friends and have starred in the Premier League this year
‘You have changed a little,’ he joked about Haaland during the documentary, who was laughing next to Odegaard at the time.
‘You were more like a little b****** in the beginning. You were so childish. You have grown up more in the last couple of years.
‘But you saw it in the first (international) camp, in the videos when you dance and sing.
‘It looks like you are 12 years old and the biggest little b******. Honestly!’
The pair are set to face off in a potential title decider on Wednesday when the Gunners travel to face City, with Mikel Arteta’s side five points clear but having played two games more.
And the now long-time friends will have to be rivals for 90 minutes, but the Arsenal skipper also explained how grew to understand Haaland and his demeanour.
Odegaard added: ‘I don’t think he does things because he thinks they are really cool.
‘But maybe he wants to get a reaction and maybe be a little funny. I just laugh at him. I do not take it seriously when he does crazy things.
‘He could walk in with some sick shoes on or a sick bag, but I don’t think “here’s Erling, he loves this.”‘
Odegaard has led Arsenal to the top of the table with his supreme displays from midfield
Haaland has enjoyed a remarkable debut season with City, scoring 48 goals in all competitions
