Alf-Inge Haaland has explained why Manchester City was the “perfect option” for his son Erling.

Reports back in March had suggested that the striker had narrowed down his choices to just Citizens and Real Madrid, and his father has now revealed that the Manchester club’s greater need for a new number nine was the deciding factor:

“You can’t really [say no to Real Madrid]. But the father and agent went on to explain why Real wasn’t right for his son. We have a criterion in mind, who needs a ‘9’? Manchester City is a 10 (out of 10), it is the perfect option, while Real Madrid is a 5 or a 6 because of how Benzema is playing now. Will they manage to sign Mbappe?”

With Borussia Dortmund having no choice but to sell Haaland with his release clause set at €60m (£51m), all the work had to be put into persuading the player and his representatives that the Etihad was the right move to make.

Other clubs had also been linked with Haaland over the past two years, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich (in addition to Real) but it appears that City not only had the finances to get the deal over the line, but had the most persuasive case when it came to the player’s priorities on the pitch as well.