While the top clubs in Europe are stepping over each other to secure the signature of Borussia Dortmund’s red hot striker Erling Haaland, it was a plain ol’ assistant referee from Romania who was able to get the young talent to put pen to paper on Tuesday.
Erling Haaland gives referee autograph
Television footage showed one of the Romanian officials in charge of the Champions League quarter-final first leg, won 2-1 by Manchester City, approaching Haaland in the tunnel after the game to get him to sign his yellow card. He succeeded.
20-year-old Haaland is perhaps the most sought-after talent in all of Europe and has been linked with a move to City and their local rivals Manchester United and Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
It is not normal protocol for match officials to ask players for autographs after games, and UEFA could respond, but City boss Pep Guardiola had said that he had no problem with the referee’s request.
