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'Haaland Is Yet To Become A World Class Player'

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MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 09: Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 09, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 09: Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 09, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

A former Liverpool star claims Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is yet to become a world class footballer.

The Norwegian striker took to English football like a duck to water after setting the record for most goals in a Premier League campaign after scoring 36 goals in 35 appearances.

Read: Pep Singles Out Real Madrid Star After 3-3 Draw

Haaland still leads the pack this season with 19 goals in the league, but he has come under some criticism from former players for his overall game.

Reds legend Jamie Carragher says the 23-year-old does not have a big influence on the game outside of scoring goals.

"Erling Haaland is the ultimate luxury footballer. He is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest goal-scorers but is yet to become a world-class player. To be truly world-class you need more than one, all-encompassing trait," Carragher wrote in his coloumn for the Telegraph.

"Think of the best Premier League strikers of the last 20 years – Thierry Henry, Luis Suarez or Harry Kane – and they had or have a major influence on the biggest matches whether they scored or not. All of them could play for any side in the world and contribute more than an impressive strike-rate.

"In general play, Haaland is not at the same level as these strikers yet, his three most recent games against top-class centre-backs confirming that for all his brilliance inside the penalty area, he is a work-in-progress out of it. 

"Virgil van Dijk, William Saliba and Antonio Rudiger bullied Haaland, the much-hyped showdowns between top defenders and a goal machine were nothing of the sort. They were a mismatch rather than a match-up."

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