Far from crazy - Haaland's new ten-year contract makes perfect sense The only surprise has been the widespread surprise over the new, 10-year contract for Erling Haaland at Manchester City.
Take 32-year-old Neymar, negotiating an extended new deal worth £300million with Saudi club Al Hilal - despite playing just 428 minutes of football since he signed in August 2023.
It also suggests City are quietly confident that the outcome of their hearing into the 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules - which they deny - will not result in the club being exiled from the top division.
So yes, they can build and inject optimism into a season of underachievement by whetting the appetite of their fans ahead of new season with Haaland the jewel in the crown of their rebuild.
A ten-year deal would still take him up to an age where the elite players who look after themselves are still performing at the highest level.
