ERLING HAALAND went full-on Rocky in preparations for the new Premier League season.
The Manchester City hitman has had the entire summer off due to Norway’s failure to qualify for Euro 2024 in Germany.
Haaland, 23, enjoyed a well-deserved break after helping fire City to their record fourth-straight domestic title.
But playtime is over for the striker, who is hard at work preparing for the new season.
And he’s been put through some old-school exercises by his dad, former City and Leeds United defender Alf-Inge.
City’s star striker has been getting his strength up by hiking through the woods and CHOPPING WOOD – just as Sylvester Stallone did in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Rocky IV’.
Haaland revealed his throwback training methods in a video on his and City’s X and Instagram pages.
In the clip, his camera said: “Cutting woods in the mountains is the most Erling Haaland thing I’ve heard.”
The former Borussia Dortmund striker then said: “My father forced me, I didn’t have a choice.”
Footie fans were quick to comment on the clip, with one saying: “Haaland is a different breed.
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By Martin Blackburn
AFTER eight glorious years of stability, Manchester City now head into an uncertain 12 months.
And Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat to neighbours United was a reminder that this glittering and unforgettable era will not go on for ever.
Around this time in 2025, City will be preparing for the highly-lucrative Fifa Club World Cup in the US.
Yet in all likelihood they will also be getting ready to say their goodbyes to manager Pep Guardiola, who has brought so much success to the east side of Manchester.
Meanwhile, there could be a verdict on 115 charges of financial irregularity which have been levelled at the club by Premier League chiefs.
The suggestion is the hearing could start later this year but is likely to take several months to reach a conclusion.
City continue to deny any wrongdoing and are confident they will be cleared by the independent commission.
Read Martin Blackburn’s full column here.
Another said: “Real dads make their sons do yard work.”
And another said: “His father is a true Viking.”
One remarked: “Normal Viking behaviour. Nothing new.”
Another chimed in: “I expected nothing less.”
Haaland has balanced the brutal nature of his off-season strength and conditioning work with the peace and tranquillity of meditation, which he’s been doing by rivers.
City will be hoping his unorthodox training methods will have him firing on all cylinders come the start of the new season.
The Norwegian bagged 38 goals in 45 appearances last season, in which he also bagged six assists.
That haul paled in comparison to the glut of goals he scored in his debut season at the Etihad Stadium, in which he found the back of the net 52 times and provided nine assists.
