Pep Guardiola issues worrying Erling Haaland injury update as star withdrawn from Barcelona game

Manchester City star Erling Haaland felt “uncomfortable” before being withdrawn from the friendly against Barcelona, ​​Pep Guardiola has revealed. The forward was replaced at half-time after struggling to make an impact in the first half in Orlando.

Haaland enjoyed a free summer with Norway as they failed to qualify for Euro 2024. However, Guardiola revealed the 24-year-old was feeling discomfort in a muscle during pre-season and City were unwilling to gamble on his fitness.

The City boss, who sailed through pre-season with a revamped squad made up mainly of young players and a few senior stars, wants Haaland to step up training despite being substituted against the Spanish side.

“Erling is not comfortable. We don't want to take any risks. But sooner or later he will have to take a step forward with training and playing time,” Guardiola said.

“The season is here, it's coming. He has muscular problems, we don't want to take the risk of losing him for three weeks or a month. That would be a problem.

“He didn't feel well and that's why he didn't play the second half. Sixty to 70% of the squad is on vacation. That's why we need the players.”

“At the same time, we have alternatives, Oscar [Bobb] is still doing an incredible job. We are happy with many things.”

Guardiola is hoping Haaland will be fully fit to start the 2024-25 Premier League season. The former Borussia Dortmund star missed almost two months last season with a foot injury, before missing two more games later in the year with a muscle problem.

Jack Grealish, meanwhile, has overcome the disappointment of missing out on England duty by having a positive pre-season, scoring in the 2-2 draw with Barca on Tuesday.

Guardiola's former club, the Catalans, took the lead through Pau Victor. City youngster Nico O'Reilly equalised. Pablo Torre restored Barca's lead at the break, with Haaland coming off at half-time. Grealish equalised on the hour mark.

The City playmaker will be hoping for a much better season at the Etihad Stadium, having struggled to nail down a regular place in Guardiola's Premier League-winning side last season and then missing out on Euro 2024 with England.

Grealish said this week: “If I say I shouldn't have been in the team, you're going to think, 'What's this guy like? What's he thinking?' So of course I thought I should have been in the team.”

“I felt like I was bringing something different to the England team, but that's just the way it is.”