Erling Haaland Receives a 7-Word Message From ‘Friend’ Khabib Nurmagomedov After Unexpected ‘Masterclass’ Goes Viral

Manchester City seems to be reaping the benefits of its Abu Dhabi winter camp. Aside from sweating on the pitch, they are also indulging in various off-pitch activities, which interestingly saw Erling Haaland strengthen ties with none other than Khabib Nurmagomedov. Engaging in a ‘good masterclass,’ the Norwegian superstar not only felt ‘great‘ to encounter the former MMA star but also received an encouraging 7-word message, as the Eagle urged the striker to meet him ‘soon’, the next time in the UK.

This came after Erling Haaland expressed his happiness over meeting the Russian MMA icon, posting a picture alongside Khabib on Instagram. He wrote, “Great to meet this legend here in Abu Dhabi,” in the caption. The post was reshared by the 2X Combat Sambo World Champion on his story and he penned a 7-word message saying, “See you in Manchester soon my friend.” Interestingly, a snippet that followed showcased Haaland signing his Manchester City jersey and writing a small message for Khabib. 

Aside from his UFC legacy, Khabib is known for his ardentness for ‘the beautiful game’. He is often spotted hanging out with soccer stars; just days ago, he met Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Now, he met with Haaland’s teammates, Ederson and Rodri. Mr. Undefeated sat down with the Sky Blues’ trio to teach them Arabic. The glimpses of it were shared by Khabib himself, who posted the clip along with a caption saying, “Teaching the champions Arabic.” He again reshared the reel on his Instagram story and wrote, “It was a good masterclass.”

This was indeed quite a heartwarming encounter between Khabib and Haaland. It seems Khabib will be flying to Manchester soon to see the former Dortmund star. He might also like to see the recent Globe Soccer Best Men’s Award winner in action. Speaking of which, what’s the injury update for Haaland? 

Injury update on Erling Haaland 

Erling Haaland is still out of action, recovering from an ankle injury. Ahead of the Newcastle match, Pep Guardiola provided an update on the Norwegian striker’s condition. He stated that the injury was a minor setback and assured that Haaland was in good shape. The Cityzens are currently evaluating Haaland’s progress and there’s some development. 

READ MORE: “I Think Erling Haaland Deserved It” – Arsenal Legend Questions Lionel Messi’s 2023 FIFA Men’s Best Player Award Win

The striker is anticipated to be back in action by late January. This means that Haaland is certain to miss Friday’s FA Cup fourth-round clash against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur. He is bound to make a return against Burnley on February 1. Otherwise, facing Brentford on February 6 would be considered a must. Whatever it may be, Pep Guardiola would be keen to move forward with patience.

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