Erling Haaland (foto: Getty Images)
Rafael van der Vaart claims Erling Haaland isn’t yet "world-class," citing a lack of technical ability compared to consistent performers like Mohamed Salah.
Former Premier League star Rafael van der Vaart has sparked debate by suggesting that Erling Haaland has yet to reach "world-class" status, despite his remarkable goal-scoring exploits for Manchester City. Comparing the Norwegian striker to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Van der Vaart argued that Haaland lacks certain qualities that define the best forwards in football.
Van der Vaart’s criticism of Haaland
Speaking about Haaland, the Dutchman stated: "Take away his pace, I see Erling Haaland as a normal player. Technique-wise, he’s not good enough and he can get away with it when City are on form but not when they’re struggling. I just think he’s missing something that those top, top strikers have."
Van der Vaart further emphasized that Haaland has yet to demonstrate the same level of influence during tough matches, saying: "Manchester City need Erling Haaland at the moment, but where is he? That’s why he’s not among that select few world-class strikers."
Salah vs Haaland: Consistency is key
Van der Vaart highlighted Mohamed Salah’s consistent performances for Liverpool over the years as the benchmark for "world-class" status. "Salah has been consistent for so many years. You can see he feels really at home at Liverpool and he should stay," he said.
While acknowledging Haaland’s success at Manchester City, including his record-breaking goal-scoring season, Van der Vaart implied that Salah’s sustained influence and versatility give him an edge in the debate.
Comparison to other top players
Van der Vaart also touched on other top forwards, saying: "I am a big fan of [Kylian] Mbappe but he is not showing it at the moment. You have Vinicius Jr too." However, he reiterated that few players have matched Salah’s consistency, further underlining his argument that Haaland has room to grow.
The comments have ignited widespread discussion among fans and pundits, with many defending Haaland’s impact at Manchester City while others acknowledge the importance of well-rounded abilities and long-term consistency in defining "world-class" players.