He’s warming up for his debut with Manchester City, and footballer Erling Haaland has got some practice in during a friendly match organised by the Norwegian royal family at their official residence in Skaugum.
His appearance came amid news that the 21-year-old striker has been signed to Manchester City for a massive £51 million and will join the UK club from Borussia Dortmund on July 1 on a five-year contract.
Crown Prince Haakon, 48, and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 48, as well as their two children Sverre Magnus, 16, and Ingrid Alexandra, 18, played alongside Leeds-born Haaland, who grew up in Norway, making up Team Skaugum.
They took on Vivil IL, a team which helps provide sporting opportunities for people with disabilities in Oslo and other areas.
Team Skaugum was beaten by Vivil IL, which took the game by a single goal, with the final score 10-9. Crown Princess Mette-Marit scored a goal for her team.
Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon (pictured, right) is seen chatting with his Team Skaugum teammate Erling Braut Haaland (pictured, left) during the charity match in Skaugum
The striker (left) who recently announced he has been signed to Manchester City for £51 million, is seen here with Princess Ingrid Alexandra after the game
Norway’s Prince Sverre Magnus (pictured, right) also took part in the game, which was organised by the Crown Prince Family and the Norwegian Football Association
The match marked the first time the annual the Vennskapskampen at Skaugum Estate was held since 2019 after being cancelled due to the pandemic.
Normally held annually, it is a collaboration between the Crown Prince Family and the Norwegian Football Association.
Haaland, one of the world’s most sought-after players, will officially join City from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract on July 1.
City said on May 10 that they had reached an agreement in principle with Dortmund to sign the 21-year-old and the club announced on Monday that the deal is complete.
‘This is a proud day for me and my family,’ said Haaland. ‘I have always watched City and have loved doing so in recent seasons. You can’t help but admire their style of play, it’s exciting and they create a lot of chances, which is perfect for a player like me.’
Crown Prince Haakon (left) is Norway’s current monarch. He will be succeeded by his daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra
Haaland is one of the most prolific goalscorers in world football and has netted 86 times in 89 appearances for Dortmund during two-and-a-half years there.
City had been waiting for Haaland to finish international duty with Norway and the official opening of the transfer window before unveiling their marquee signing.
The Premier League champions believe they have landed a bargain after beating Real Madrid to the signature of Haaland. He had also been linked with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in recent months.
‘We have been monitoring Erling for several years now, so we are delighted to bring him here to Manchester City,’ said City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain.
The event came just days ahead of another significant date in the Norwegian royal diary: Ingrid Alexandra is set to host her 18th birthday gala on June 17.
During the match, Crown Princess Mette-Marit (pictured, right) was seen celebrating after scoring a goal for Team Skaugum
Although she turned 18 in January, the event, which was due to coincide with her actual birthday, was postponed due to the pandemic.
The Summer bash will be attended by a host of glamourous European royals including Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, with their daughter Princess Amalia, who is also 18.
Ingrid Alexandra’s Spanish godfather Felipe VI, and his stylish wife Queen Letizia are also due to take part in the festivities.
Additionally, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, who are also Ingrid Alexandra’s godparents, will also attend with their spouses.
Ingrid Alexandra, who is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit, will become Norway’s first female monarch in 600 years when she ascends the throne after her father, 48.
The 48-year-old Crown Princess Mette-Marit (pictured, far right) was seen sitting with (L-R) her son Sverre Magnus, 16, striker Erling Haarland, 21, and her daughter Ingrid Alexandra, 18
While her parents wanted their eldest daughter to enjoy as normal a life as possible when growing up, Ingrid Alexandra has been launched into the spotlight earlier this year when she reached her milestone birthday.
To mark the date, she joined her grandfather, reigning King Harald V, for a cabinet meeting at the Royal Palace.
The family also celebrated her birthday by releasing a series of official portraits.
In the next few years, Ingrid Alexandra will increase her public profile and take on more responsibilities on behalf of the royal family but will continue to focus on her education, the palace said in a statement.
Crown Prince Haakon secured her place in the line of succession by changing the law to allow first-born daughters to ascend the throne over their younger male siblings. Her birthday means that, if required, she can now act as Regent of Norway.
Norway marked Ingrid Alexandra’s milestone birthday with new official portraits in January, but her party was postponed due to the pandemic
Haakon, 48, ascended the throne ahead of his older sister Princess Märtha Louise, 50, who now lives in the US with her boyfriend, the spiritual leader Shaman Durek.
Their father King Harald, 84, ascended the throne in 1991.
Ingrid has a younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, 16, and an older half-brother on her mother’s side, Marius Borg Høiby.
The previous Norwegian queen was Queen Margaret, who reigned over Norway, Denmark and Sweden from the late 1380s until her death in 1412.
Born in 2004 in Oslo, Princess Ingrid Alexandra attended the same local primary school as her half-brother, Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship.
Her parents chose the school because they wanted her to have as ordinary a childhood as possible.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
