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Erling Haaland counts Zlatan Ibrahimović among his greatest sporting inspirations, and the Swedish icon drew on a biblical story when offering advice to the Manchester City forward.
"Never cut your hair," the former Barcelona and Manchester United striker told his fellow Scandinavian. "Because your strength is in your hair." Yet, City's Samson didn't need a Delilah to creep in under the cover of darkness to snip his locks — he took matters into his own hands.
"The season starts now, so it's time for a fresh beginning," Haaland told his YouTube channel ahead of City's Premier League season opener against Bournemouth on Sunday. "I'm a bit nervous." That sentiment was widely shared.
The unnamed barber handed the daunting responsibility of removing Haaland's iconic man bun confessed: "I'm a little bit stressed. It's not a usual job."
Haaland's agent Rafaela Pimenta was visibly on edge as well, declaring it "the most expensive haircut of all time" before a single strand had fallen.
Haaland's girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen exclaimed, "I think I will cry."
Short hair don't care 😅✂️ pic.twitter.com/tPzQVFoUIL
However, once the transformation was complete, Johansen was pleasantly taken aback. "It looks nice. You look cute," she smiled, much to Haaland's disappointment, as he had been aiming for a "tough" appearance. "I'll wake up in the morning and think, who's that?"
That reaction may extend well beyond their home. "Can't wait for the fans to sing, 'Who the f---ing hell is that?'" Haaland laughed from the barber's chair. "I want Man City fans to sing that."
"Imagine if I score a header tomorrow," he added with a mischievous grin.
Haaland has worn shorter styles before, but this represents a dramatic change for a player who has kept the same signature look throughout his four years at Manchester City. "No regrets, never," the Norwegian international insisted, referencing an example closer to his heritage than Samson and Delilah. "Remember, the vikings always cut it short."
'You're Lucky'—Guardiola, Ibrahimovic, Grealish React to Haaland's Haircut
There was a shared reaction among the small group of people Haaland chose to reveal his new look to on Saturday afternoon — the 26-year-old appeared to have shed several years. "Mate, you look about 17 years old," City superfan and Oasis legend Noel Gallagher chuckled over the phone.
Haaland's City teammate Jack Grealish, once he had composed himself after laughing, remarked: "You look about f---ing 10 years old."
Yet, Gallagher concluded: "Change is good," while Grealish enthused: "I love it."
Ibrahimović, the very person who had urged Haaland never to cut his hair, was far less impressed. "What the f--- did you do?" he asked, with a hint of genuine, lighthearted frustration in his voice. "Oh my god, what the f--- is this? You lost a bet, or what? Block me and erase my number." The only silver lining Ibrahimović could find was: "You're going to be faster, right?"
Pep Guardiola, City's recently departed head coach, also chimed in. "No way," he gasped, shirtless and sun-kissed while on his break. "You're lucky you have hair," the bald Catalan cautioned. "I would love to have it."