Erling Haaland's overheard Man City transfer demand seconds after Al-Hilal loss
Erling Haaland seemed to cheekily urge Yassine Bounou to join Manchester City after he helped Al-Hilal dump the former Premier League champions out of the Club World Cup in the tournament's biggest upset so far.
Pep Guardiola 's side played out a thriller with their Saudi Pro League counterparts. But after taking the game to extra-time, it was Al-Hilal who struck to clinch a famous 4-3 victory in Orlando, condemning City's new-look team to another sobering loss.
While it is Al-Hilal who now advance to the quarter-finals, they would have been heading home were it not for the performance of Bounou.
The 34-year-old made a string of fine saves to keep Al-Hilal alive for most of the match - and he was seen receiving his flowers from Haaland after the final whistle.
It seemed as though the Norwegian was mischievously gesturing for Bounou to 'come and join' us as he and his team-mates began to digest their surprise defeat.
While Haaland's gesture was likely very much tongue in cheek, it was a night to forget for City's No.1, Ederson, who was not at his stellar best.
There has also been plenty of speculation over the Brazilian's long-term future; whispers of interest from Saudi Arabia have been rife over the last 12 months and there was talk of a potential move before the start of the 2024-25 season.
The former Benfica man is also in the final year of his contract at the Etihad, however, he played down talk of a summer exit just last week.
'My future is here,' Ederson insisted amid further links to the Middle East. 'Some friends send me a lot of news but 99 percent is fake news.
'I understand you guys. You need the news to put a like on social media or rant for the news. I understand but there's a lot of fake news around my name.
'My head is here. It stays with the city. It gives me everything to go back to the Premier League again and try to win the Champions League as well.'
City will not return to competitive action until the start of the new domestic season, where they will face Wolves away from home on Saturday 16 August.
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