Why Erling Haaland snubbed Norway rest as insider sheds light on conversation with boss

Erling Haaland rejected an offer from Norway manager Staale Solbakken to start on the bench against Portugal, according to Norwegian reporter Vegard Aulstad. The Manchester City striker preferred to start and agreed to play roughly an hour before being substituted after 67 minutes due to fatigue during Norway's 2-1 defeat in Porto.

Aulstad clarified that Haaland's substitution was caused by exhaustion rather than an injury ahead of City's upcoming clash against Liverpool. Following the match, the forward traveled to Marbella on a private jet to rest before returning to club duty.