Norway Manager Breaks Silence On Alleged Manchester City Media Blackout Over Haaland

Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken has rejected claims that Manchester City instructed him to shield Erling Haaland from questions about the English club’s financial breaches while the striker was on international duty.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Haaland was initially expected to attend a Norway press conference but was later withdrawn from the media session following developments surrounding Manchester City’s financial case. The decision sparked speculation that the Premier League club had sought to prevent the striker from facing questions about the matter.

Solbakken, however, strongly denied having any recent discussions with Manchester City regarding Haaland’s media responsibilities. He said the last time he spoke to officials at the club about media matters was around the time Haaland was preparing to leave Borussia Dortmund for Manchester City.

The Norway manager described suggestions of a City-directed media blackout as false and said such claims questioned his integrity as the national team coach.

Solbakken explained that the decision to excuse Haaland from certain media duties was his own and was made without consulting the striker beforehand. His stated reason was to allow Haaland to remain focused on Norway’s football commitments rather than become distracted by questions concerning his club.

The coach had earlier explained that Haaland’s absence from the press conference was intended to give him the best possible conditions to concentrate on Norway’s upcoming match. The Norwegian Football Federation instead made Solbakken, Fredrik Aursnes and Andreas Schjelderup available to the media.

Solbakken also expressed frustration over the continued attention surrounding Manchester City’s legal problems during Norway’s international assignments. He urged journalists to focus on Haaland’s responsibilities with the national team rather than what he described as claims of a cover-up.

The controversy followed reports that Manchester City had been found guilty of numerous financial-rule breaches. The club has maintained its position in the ongoing legal process, while the case continues to generate significant attention around players associated with the team.

Solbakken maintained that Manchester City had no role in his decision concerning Haaland’s media availability and insisted that the move was made solely to protect the striker’s focus on his duties with Norway.