You suspect Erling Haaland was only half-joking when the Manchester City star suggested to team-mate Kalvin Phillips that they join forces and belt out 'Marching on Together' for their initiation song. In the end, the pair went solo - Haaland performed Enrique Iglesias' 'Hero' while Phillips opted for George Ezra hit 'Budapest' at the team hotel in Houston - but the Norwegian knows the words of the Leeds United anthem for a reason.

Haaland understandably made it clear that he was a lifelong supporter of another of dad Alfie's former clubs, Manchester City, after he joined the faltering champions two-and-a-half years ago. However, Phillips' mother, Lindsay, was hardly speaking out of turn when she confirmed the striker was a 'really big Leeds fan', too.

After all, this is a man who once said it was his dream to win the Premier League with Leeds; who was most excited about a trip to Elland Road when the fixture list came out in 2022; who whispered 'Marching on Together' in Stuart Dallas' ear; who wore Leeds shorts during his time at Borussia Dortmund; who even had an Eirik Bakke shirt in his room as a kid...

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That did not come as news to his countryman. Bakke was 'looked after' by Alfie when he joined Leeds and the pair ended up living next to each other. Bakke, more than most, knows how the club and city got under the family's skin.

"When I came over, Erling was born a year after," he told Leeds Live. "To see him grow up from that little energetic boy to what he is now is crazy.

"Leeds has got a special place in his heart. If it wasn't for Pep Guardiola and Man City, I think he would love to play for Leeds one day. He was born in Leeds. It was a special day when he scored two goals there."

It was rather telling that Haaland refused to celebrate either of those goals in the city of his birth a couple of years ago. After the game, Haaland admitted that not in his 'craziest fantasy' did he imagine playing for Manchester City against Leeds at Elland Road as proud parents Alfie and Gry watched on. Should that even have come as a surprise?

Alf Ingve Berntsen, who worked with Haaland for a decade in his formative years at Bryne, told us that Haaland was 'proud of being born in Leeds' and the seeds of that affection were sown following Alfie's spell in Yorkshire. In fact, you will still find Alfie wearing Leeds' training kit, like he did on a visit to Saudi Arabia with his son last summer, as well as the blue of Manchester City.

Alfie even accompanied his son when Haaland was handed a shirt with his name on the back during a tour of Leeds' facilities as a youngster. Haaland ultimately joined Red Bull Salzburg, but the 24-year-old has never forgotten his roots. Gunnar Halle, Alfie's former team-mate, who coached Erling in Norway's youth set-up, said 'that is something that will be there forever'.

"Erling always looked back on that time and his dad was there," he explained to Leeds Live. "Erling mentioned Leeds a lot. He has his shirt and everything from Leeds.

"That was the club he followed in England in the beginning and I think he still does. Things have happened and he's gone on to other things, but Leeds will always be a part of his heart. When you are born there, that's the case. With Alfie, it's been there for a while.

"Sometimes, it's difficult now to mention too much about other clubs, but I think that will still be the case. Early on, he was proud to be born in Leeds and, also, that his dad played there. He's following Leeds and the results every week."