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Erling Haaland shaves off trademark hair ahead of Man City's Premier League opener against Bournemouth
Erling Haaland surprised fans and teammates with a new buzz cut, sharing the transformation on Instagram and YouTube. The Manchester City striker revealed he had considered the cut after the World Cup, and received reactions from Pep Guardiola, Jack Grealish, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Noel Gallagher.
Erling Haaland has debuted a dramatic new hairstyle, shaving off his long blonde locks in favor of a sharp buzz cut. The Manchester City striker shared the transformation with his followers, posting a series of snaps on Instagram with the captions "Short hair, don't care" and "New season, new trim."
Haaland also uploaded a YouTube video documenting the entire experience. In the video, he explained his reasoning: "This beautiful blond hair, time to let it go. I was thinking about doing it straight after the World Cup but it was so busy so I didn't do it. The season starts now so it's time to get a fresh start and everything."
He admitted to being nervous about the cut, revealing that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had advised him against it. "The only thing is Zlatan told me to 'never cut your hair because your strength is in your hair'. I'm a bit nervous. I want a buzz cut like I've been in the military."
Reactions from Teammates and Friends
The new look drew immediate reactions from those close to Haaland. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who was reportedly pulled away from watching a match to take Haaland's call, responded with a surprised "No way." He added, "You're lucky you have hair, I'd love to have it. Look if you don't like it, it will grow out."
Teammate Jack Grealish was equally amused, starting his call with a chuckle before quipping, "Nah. You look about 10 years old. Oh my. I can't stop looking at the front of your head, I swear. I love it."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, however, was far from impressed. According to the video, he reacted with disbelief: "What the f** did you do? You lost a bet or what? Oh my god, block me and erase my number. My wife says you are crazy."
Oasis star Noel Gallagher, a well-known City fan, also got a glimpse of the transformation. Haaland FaceTimed Gallagher, who was unable to contain his laughter, responding with "No way" and asking when Haaland had gotten the cut done.
A Fresh Start on the Pitch
Haaland debuted his new hairstyle in Manchester City's Premier League opener against Bournemouth, which City won 2-1. Despite the victory, Haaland reportedly missed a couple of great chances during the match. The new look appears to be part of a broader reset for the striker as he embarks on the new season.
How this outlet told it
Stoke Sentinel
Framing: The headline emphasizes Haaland's surprise new look after shaving his head. — Entertained and amused
Facts Included:
Haaland shaved his head, debuting a buzz cut
He shared snaps on Instagram with captions 'Short hair, don't care' and 'New season, new trim'
He uploaded a YouTube video documenting the haircut
Haaland said he was thinking about doing it after the World Cup but was too busy
Zlatan Ibrahimovic told him 'never cut your hair because your strength is in your hair'
Nervous about the cut, wanted military-style buzz cut
Pep Guardiola reacted with 'No way' and said 'You're lucky you have hair'
Jack Grealish said he looked 10 years old
Zlatan said 'You lost a bet or what?' and told him to block and erase his number
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimErling Haaland debuted a buzz cut, shaving off his long blonde hair.