Pep Guardiola could barely contain his excitement when asked about Erling Haaland’s transfer hours before Man City made the announcement

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola struggled to hide his excitement as he hinted a deal for Erling Haaland was almost complete – just hours before the deal was officially confirmed.

City revealed on Tuesday afternoon that Haaland will be at the Etihad next season.

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With a relative bargain price of £51million, thanks to a contractual release clause, a bumper salary of £375,000-a-week would also have been agreed.

City have been without a striker since all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero left at the end of last season, with Haaland an incredible substitute.

The 21-year-old has scored 85 goals in 88 games since signing for Dortmund, while he boasts an incredible record of 23 goals in 19 Champions League appearances.

Considering these numbers, it’s easy to see why Guardiola was rather giddy when asked about the signing.

“I would like to speak, honestly, but I can’t,” he said with a smile during his pre-match press conference.

“They tell me not to say anything until… for the legal actions, for the legal situation, that it’s far from my point of view.

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“So we will have time to talk about it. Not because I don’t want to, I can’t.

City have managed to fight off competition from a number of the biggest clubs in the world, such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea who are said to be interested in signing him.

But the striker sensation opted for his childhood club, the one his father Alf-Inge played for between 2000 and 2003.

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