Van der Vaart Critiques Haaland's World-Class Status

Rafael van der Vaart has sparked controversy by labeling Manchester City's Erling Haaland as 'not a world-class player,' claiming that without his pace, he appears to be 'a normal player.' Despite Haaland's impressive record of 107 goals in 117 appearances and his pivotal role in City's recent successes, Van der Vaart argues that Haaland's technical skills fall short compared to legendary strikers like Ruud van Nistelrooy and Marco van Basten. He criticized Haaland's contributions during City's current struggle, where they have failed to win their last seven matches. Van der Vaart believes that City's star players are exhausted, suggesting a need for a squad rebuild rather than a coaching change. His comments come amid a dismal phase for City, who are 11 points behind Liverpool in the league. The discussion has reignited the debate on Haaland's standing in the elite category of strikers.