Erling Haaland changes his NAME: Man City star follows traditional Norwegian custom as national team make announcement in 'new chapter' for superstar striker

Erling Haaland has made a name change to his shirt for the Norwegian national team ahead of his country's upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Haaland, 25, will now include his middle name on his number nine shirt so that it reads 'Braut Haaland' instead.

Haaland is known by the full name of Erling Braut Haaland on Instagram and has been referred to as such when he scored nine goals in a game for Norway at the U20 World Cup in 2019.

Using both one's mother and father's surnames is a common practice in Norway - with Erling's father, Alfie, having played for the Citizens for three years from 2000 until 2003.

While football fans will remember Alfie's exploits, Erling's mother also found success in the world of sport.

Gry Marita Braut was a renowned Norwegian heptathlete champion during the 1990s - competing across 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m events as part of the athletic discipline.

Erling Haaland has made a name change to his shirt for the Norwegian national team ahead of his country's upcoming World Cup qualifiers

Haaland, 25, will now include his middle name on his number nine shirt so that it reads 'Braut Haaland' instead

Erling is seen with his mother Gry Marita Braut (second from left) after helping Manchester City to Champions League glory in 2023

Haaland has enjoyed a summer rest and is aiming to fire City to the Premier League title

Norway manager Stale Solbakken said: 'That's his name [Braut], it's no longer that difficult. I knew nothing of it until now.'

However, he wore the name of Haaland at previous clubs Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund before continuing to do so at City.

Norway are next in action on September 4 in a friendly against Finland before they face Moldova in a World Cup qualifier on September 9.

Haaland's team are currently top of their group with a maximum of 12 points from four games so far, putting them top of the group and in pole position for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, Haaland has added to his extensive car collection as he was seen leaving the club's Etihad Campus in a new Ford Shelby F-150 truck last month.

The truck comes with a five litre V8 engine and is capable of going from zero to 60mph in 3.4 seconds.

It adds to a large fleet of cars Haaland has bought since moving to Man City for Borussia Dortmund back in 2022.

The Norwegian has remarkably bought four cars since putting pen to paper on his latest Man City contract earlier this year.

Norway are next in action on September 4 in a friendly against Finland before they face Moldova in a World Cup qualifier on September 9

In January, Haaland signed the most lucrative contract in Premier League history, with his total package worth almost £1million per week over nine-and-a-half-years.

The following month, Haaland was seen leaving training in a orange Porsche 911 GT3 which is worth over £200,000.

Haaland was then reported to teamed up with billionaire car collector Ole Ertvaag to buy the Bugatti Tourbillion, worth a reported £4million.

The rare supercar is one of just 250 to have been made and was billed to have 'space age' features including 'butterfly doors'.

The Bugatti has a 1,800 horsepower petrol and electric hybrid V16 engine which can take the car from zero to 62mph in two seconds, and can reach 124mph in just a mere five seconds.

In May, Haaland splashed out on a yellow convertible Ferrari 812 Superfast, which would have set back the forward £320,000.

His collection also includes an Aston Martin DBX 4x4 worth £350,000, a £250,000 Mercedes Maybach and a £120,000 Audi RS6 Avant Quattro.

The forward in the past has been seen driving a Ferrari Monza SP2, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Range Rover Sport.

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