A spat between a reportedly annoyed Erling Haaland and his manager Pep Guardiola is now said to be brewing at Manchester City.
Under the guidance of the Spanish tactician, City's talisman scored an astonishing 52 goals in 53 appearances last season, helping the side to a historic treble-winning season and putting him in contention to win the acclaimed Ballon d'Or award.
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This campaign, the statistics suggest that the Norwegian will once again score an extraordinary amount of goals, having already hit the back of the net 17 times in 18 appearances across all competitions.
However, things are said to have taken a negative turn at the Etihad, following reports of a fallout that has caused the striker to reconsider his future in Manchester.
Guardiola is believed to have upset the 23-year-old with the way he praised Lionel Messi prior to the Argentine winning his eighth Ballon d'Or last month, with Haaland finishing second.
"They tell me from the player's entourage that there has been a certain disagreement with Guardiola since before the Ballon d'Or gala," Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda told El Chiringuito de Jugones, per FourFourTwo.
"Pep grandly praised Messi, saying that his worst season 'coincided with the best of Haaland'.
"[He] praised both of them, but he [used] that phrase and Haaland was not amused. There is a certain distance from the coach.
"The relationship is not in a good moment. What you have to say is that the Ballon d'Or has to go to your star and not Leo Messi."
While tensions are suggested to be rising as a result, Real Madrid are believed to be keeping a keen eye on the situation.
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It has been reported that Los Blancos have identified the Norway international as a back-up option if they are unable to secure French superstar Kylian Mbappe's signature.
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