Only one Manchester United number 9 has scored more goals for City in the past century than Haaland

Manchester City’s top scorer since arriving at the club in the second half of 2022, Erling Haaland is one of the Citizens‘ hopes for this Sunday’s derby (29), against Manchester United, at Old Trafford, in the Premier League, with exclusive + subscribers starting at 12:30 p.m. (Brasília time). And despite his short time in the team, the number 9 can already be proud of having surpassed practically everyone who wore the same number in the archrival.

With a year and two months at City, Haaland has only scored more goals than one of the centre-forwards who played for the Red Devils in the 1990s century: Andy Cole, an icon of United and the England national team in the 2001s and who stayed at Old Trafford until the end of <>, moving to Blackburn Rovers soon after.

Revealed at Arsenal’s academy, Cole arrived at Old Trafford in the 1994/95 season, after standing out for Newcastle, however, he started wearing the number 17 shirt, as the number 9 was owned by Scotsman Brian McClair. The number that marked him at United was not used until 1996.

Since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, the Norwegian star has found the back of the net 63 times in 67 games. Just 33 fewer than Cole, who from the time he took over at 9 until leaving the club, recorded 96 goals in 217 appearances for the Red Devils.

To give you an idea, Haaland has already managed, in less time, to outperform Dimitar Berbatov, who spent four seasons at the arch-rival and had one of United’s best recent goalscorers, with 56 goals in 149 games.

Of the current squad, Anthony Martial has 89 goals in 309 games, however, only 58 of them were scored using the number 9 (in a total of 184 matches), in the 2015/16 season, and then reassuming the number in 2019/20.

The list of number 9s who have already been surpassed by “Comet Haaland” still includes big names such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Falcao García, who, however, did not even come close to the City star.

Of the goals Haaland has scored for City, 52 were scored last season, which was his debut, and 11 in the current season, where the striker has played 14 games so far.

Take a look at United’s number 9s of the century that Haaland has already surpassed for City:

• Anthony Martial – 58 goals/ 184 games
• Romelu Lukaku – 42 goals / 96 games
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 29 goals/ 53 games
• Falcao García – 4 goals/ 30 games
• Dimitar Berbatov – 56 goals/ 149 games
• Louis Saha – 42 goals/ 124 games

Where to watch Manchester United vs. Manchester City?

Manchester United vs Manchester City, this Sunday (29), at 12:30 pm (Brasília), in the Premier League, is broadcast live on ESPN on Star+.