Erling Haaland looked to be frustrated when he was taken off by Pep Guardiola in the closing stages of their win against Wolves
Erling Haaland scored four goals as Manchester City thrashed Wolves to stay within one point of Arsenal in the Premier League. AP
Erling Haaland has been branded a “spoilt brat” by former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as the duo continued their war of words.
Keane has been critical of the Manchester City strike on several occasions this season and he reignited their feud after City’s 5-1 win against Wolves on Saturday.
Haaland scored four goals in the rout as City moved within one point of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
But the 23-year-old looked to be frustrated when he was taken off by manager Pep Guardiola in the closing stages of the game at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola said Haaland was annoyed with the refereeing, but Keane was quick to lambast the striker.
“I think we saw Haaland yesterday brought off not too happy, behaving like a spoilt brat,” Keane told Sky Sports in his role as a pundit for Liverpool’s win against Tottenham on Sunday.
“I think when you have the spat as well with the manager and obviously your star man, it doesn’t help that results aren’t going your way.
“But because they win the game, he scores goals it’s almost forgotten about.”
Keane had previously targeted Haaland’s general play as that of a “League Two” player, which led the former Borussia Dortmund star to hit back following the Wolves game.
“I don’t really care that much about that man, so that’s all right,” Haaland said.
Keane was infamously sent off for a brutal foul on Haaland’s father Alfie, during a city derby against Man United in 2001.
Alfie made just a handful of appearances for Manchester City after that before having to retire aged just 30, although it was later clarified that the injury from Keane’s tackle was not the cause.
Keane admitted in his autobiography that his challenge was premeditated due to a prior grudge.
After Keane was hurt in a tackle with Alfie, then part of Leeds United, in 1997, the Norwegian stood over him, apparently accusing his rival of feigning injury.
But Keane had ruptured his cruciate ligament and wrote in his book of their 2001 clash: “I’d waited long enough. I hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that. And don’t ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries.”
Erling Haaland now has SIX Premier League hat-tricks in under two seasons