Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is set to miss his side's upcoming EFL Cup tie against Watford, according to a new report from the Manchester Evening News. The decision stems from the fact that he needs to return to Norway to attend the funeral of his father, Harland Sr.'s close friend Eval Egea.
Eval Egea was not only a close friend of Harland Sr. but also acted as the best man at Harland Sr.'s wedding, so he had a deep bond with the Harland family. To Harland, Eval Egea was like an uncle, and a deep bond was established between the two. Unfortunately, Eval Egea passed away earlier this month at the age of 59, which was a heavy blow to the Harland family.
Upon learning of Aivar Egea's death, Manchester City FC quickly provided Harland with the necessary bereavement leave support to show their sympathy and understanding of his loss. However, after the initial grief, Harland had chosen to remain with the team and attend matches to show his support for the team and the fans. But as the date of the funeral approached, Harland eventually decided to return to his hometown to personally bid farewell to an elder who had played an important part in his life.
It has been reported that Harland has flown back to Norway on Monday to prepare for Eval Egea's funeral, which took place this week. He will miss the EFL Cup match against Watford as a result, but the decision has been fully understood and supported by the club and the fans. After all, there are moments in life when family and emotional support are far more important than a soccer match.
For City, Harland's absence will undoubtedly have an impact on the team's attacking line. However, against the backdrop of the team's overall strength, it is believed that other players will be able to step up and fill the void left by Harland. Meanwhile, fans have also sent their blessings to Harland, hoping that he can successfully complete his funeral in his hometown and adjust his mentality as soon as possible to return to the field to continue to contribute to the strength of Manchester City.
It is expected that Harland will return to the team for Manchester City's match against Newcastle on Saturday. He will then step back onto the green pitch with thoughts of the departed and his love for soccer to provide the fans with an exciting game.
