Norwegian Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland unrecognisable with shaved head

The Manchester City superstar has a new hairstyle for the new Premier League season: a buzz cut that went viral on social media on Sunday ahead of the team’s opening match against Bournemouth.

It didn’t help him. The Norway striker missed a couple of great chances in City’s 2-1 win at Etihad Stadium.

Haaland has become one of the most easily distinguishable sport stars in recent years because of his long hair, particularly after his World Cup heroics earlier this year.

In a video on Haaland’s YouTube channel, Zlatan Ibrahimovic asked if the City striker had “lost a bet” when he was shown the new hairstyle.

Former City manager Pep Guardiola reacted to the haircut by saying: “You’re lucky to have hair. I would love to have it!”

Haaland arrived at Etihad Stadium for the Bournemouth game wearing a cap, but that had been removed for the warmup — revealing the buzz cut.

City marked Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League game in charge with a stirring late rally, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to take the victory.

Josko Gvardiol placed a finish into the bottom corner in the first minute of stoppage time for the winner, which was initially given offside before being awarded following a video review, after Marc Guehi had equalised with a 84th-minute header from a corner.

Maresca hugged his players on the field after the final whistle on Sunday. A huge banner, reading “Welcome back Enzo,” had been held aloft by City fans as the Italian — Pep Guardiola’s assistant in City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season — emerged from the tunnel for his first home game as manager.

Wearing a sharp, black suit, Maresca certainly looked the part on the touchline but the slickness synonymous with City’s play under Guardiola down the years wasn’t quite there until the late comeback sparked by substitute Rayan Cherki, who set up both goals.

“I was very pleased when the game started, to see the banner on the other side. And I was pleased because we give them the joy of the three points,” beamed Maresca.

Maresca began his time as Guardiola’s replacement with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend and has had to deal with the departure of star midfielder Rodri to Barcelona.

But City might have found a long-term replacement for Rodri in 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is set to join from Lille for 100 million euros according to French media.

Elsewhere, Brighton scored four goals in the opening 31 minutes and also missed a slew of great chances in a 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa.