Norwegian star Erling Haaland, the striker for Manchester City, confirmed that physical fatigue cannot be considered an excuse for his lower goal-scoring rate at the start of 2026, stressing his full commitment to demanding better performances from himself to maintain his team's hopes of achieving a historic feat by competing for four titles this season.

Haaland's comments came after his heroic performance in the top match of the round, where he scored the decisive winning goal in stoppage time from a penalty kick, leading the Citizens to a valuable 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, a win that kept the gap with leaders Arsenal at just six points in the heated Premier League race.

Haaland's stats and response to criticism

Although the Norwegian striker has scored 28 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions this season, he is experiencing a relative goal drought in open play in the league. He hasn't found the net from a well-worked move since December 20th and has only managed three goals in his last 13 matches. Haaland, 25, commented on this situation, saying: "Of course, I haven't scored enough goals since the start of the year, and I'm fully aware that I need to improve. I need to be sharper and more clinical in front of goal, and that's what I'll be working hard on.".

context of competition and physical stress

These comments come as an indirect response to concerns raised by his Spanish coach, Pep Guardiola, who stated last month that his top scorer was suffering from "fatigue" due to the congested fixture schedule. Manchester City faces an extremely busy schedule, competing on four fronts: the Premier League, the upcoming League Cup final against Arsenal next month, the Champions League round of 16, and a fourth-round FA Cup tie against Salford (League Two).

Haaland refused to give in to the idea of ​​fatigue, explaining: "I don't want to talk about my declining performance and I don't think there are excuses. Fatigue is mostly a mental issue. Yes, the schedule is busy and there are many matches, but the most important thing for me is to maintain my fitness and be ready to help the team at any time.".

A dramatic scenario at Anfield

Liverpool's match was a true test of champion's character, as City were close to falling nine points behind Arsenal after Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai gave the Reds the lead with a superb free-kick six minutes from time. However, Haaland demonstrated his immense value by setting up Bernardo Silva's equalizer, before remaining calm amidst the roar of the Liverpool fans to score the decisive penalty that revived the title race.

Manchester City will be looking to increase the pressure on league leaders Arsenal when they face Fulham on Wednesday, with a win potentially cutting the gap to three points temporarily before the Gunners play Brentford. Haaland concluded defiantly: "We've learned from past experiences that the title race isn't over until the final whistle. My focus is entirely on the Fulham game now because there's still a long way to go.".

Zenit Saint Petersburg officials have successfully finalized the loan signing of Colombian striker John Duran from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr until the end of the current season. This agreement follows a series of intensive negotiations that culminated in a successful deal, with all financial and contractual details settled between the parties involved to ensure the player's transfer and the start of his new chapter in the Russian Premier League.

Informed sources revealed that the transfer fee for John Duran to the Russian club was $2.5 million (two and a half million US dollars), the amount Al-Nassr will receive for loaning the player for six months. This move comes as part of Al-Nassr's investment strategy, which aims to maximize financial returns from player contracts, especially those of players who are no longer part of the first team's plans.

Duran's move to Russia proved to be an ideal solution to the recent crisis. The player, who was on loan to Turkish club Fenerbahçe, refused to extend his loan spell there, prompting Al-Nassr's management to quickly secure a new destination that would guarantee the player's participation and generate revenue for the club. The transfer to Zenit is considered a new opportunity for the Colombian striker to prove his abilities in a league characterized by its physicality and high level of competition.

Meanwhile, within the Al-Nassr camp, the first football team is enjoying a period of great technical and morale stability, having secured a valuable and well-deserved victory in their last match in the Saudi Professional League. The win came against their traditional rivals, Al-Ittihad, with a score of 2-0, in the Saudi football classic held at Al-Awwal Park Stadium.

This victory not only secured Al-Nassr three crucial points in the league race, but also underscored the squad's depth and the coach's ability to manage absences and departures. This sends a positive message to fans that loaning out some players will not negatively impact the team's structure, which is steadily progressing towards competing for domestic and continental titles. These moves in the transfer market demonstrate the club's administrative maturity in handling foreign player recruitment, serving the club's best interests both technically and financially.

In the past few hours, global and local sports circles have witnessed a significant increase in reports linking Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool legend, to a move to Saudi club Al-Nassr. These speculations coincide with the uncertainty surrounding the future of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo with Al-Nassr, opening the door to exciting scenarios in the upcoming summer transfer window.

General context: The transfer revolution continues in the Saudi League

Al-Nassr's interest in Mohamed Salah cannot be separated from the broader context of the ambitious Saudi sports project. Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in the winter of 2013, the Saudi Professional League (SPL) has become a magnet for top international football stars, such as Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane. The attempt to sign Salah is a logical step to further solidify this position, as the Egyptian star is seen not only as a phenomenal footballer but also as an Arab and global icon capable of continuing the league's development and raising its market value.

Details of the potential offer and the "post-Ronaldo" plan

International media reports indicate that Al-Nassr's management, in coordination with the Saudi Pro League's recruitment committee, has placed Mohamed Salah at the top of their priority list to replace Cristiano Ronaldo should he leave. Sources suggest that Al-Nassr is considering a lucrative offer, including a weekly salary that could be three times what Salah currently earns at Anfield, to entice the player to embark on a new adventure in Saudi football.

Technical gains: How will Salah change the shape of Al-Nassr?

From a technical standpoint, signing Salah represents a significant leap forward for Al-Nassr's attack. The "Egyptian Pharaoh" possesses unique tactical attributes that set him apart from a traditional striker; he has exceptional speed, remarkable dribbling skills, and the ability to cut inside from the right wing, in addition to his keen eye for goal. These qualities will give Al-Nassr's coach considerable tactical flexibility, as Salah can be deployed as a winger or a second striker, reducing the team's over-reliance on a traditional center forward and creating diverse solutions for breaking down opposing defenses.

The marketing and public relations aspect of the deal

Beyond the technical benefits, Salah's move to Al-Nassr carries enormous marketing weight. Mohamed Salah enjoys immense popularity in the Arab world and the Middle East, and joining a Saudi club will boost shirt sales, television broadcasting rights, and fan attendance, making him the ideal advertising face for the next phase should Ronaldo leave.

Mohamed Salah's historic numbers with Liverpool

The numbers speak clearly about the technical value that Salah will add, as he has a legendary record with Liverpool that makes him one of the best players in the history of the club and the English Premier League:

• Number of matches: 461 matches.
• Number of goals: 251 goals.
• Assists: 119 assists.
• Total goal contributions: 370 direct contributions.

In conclusion, although the player’s official position has not yet been decided, given Liverpool’s insistence on retaining his services, the current data and the rapidly evolving dynamics in the transfer market make seeing Mohamed Salah in Al-Nasr’s jersey a strong possibility, in a deal that could be the most prominent in the history of Arab transfers.