Just days earlier, Guardiola had issued a blunt fitness directive to his squad ahead of the short Christmas break. Following a victory over West Ham, the Manchester City boss revealed that players had been weighed, with everything deemed "perfect" at that point. However, he vowed to personally oversee another weigh-in on December 25, cautioning that any player returning "fatty" – specifically with three extra kilos or more – would be left out of the squad for the upcoming Boxing Day fixture against Nottingham Forest on December 27. "They can eat at Christmas, but I want to control them," Guardiola said, drawing on past precedents like dropping Kalvin Phillips for similar reasons.
Haaland, ever the disciplined yet playful superstar, appeared to take the warning in stride. On December 25, the Norwegian striker posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) showing himself standing on a bathroom scale, barefoot and in casual attire. The caption was simple and direct: "All good!!" Reports from outlets like L'Équipe and Tribuna indicated the scale read 94.4 kg – consistent with Haaland's reported playing weight around 94 kg, suggesting no festive overindulgence had tipped the scales.
The post was widely interpreted as a humorous reassurance to Guardiola and fans that the Premier League's prolific goalscorer remained in peak condition despite the temptations of Christmas dinners, turkeys, and holiday treats. It amassed tens of thousands of likes and reposts within hours, with reactions ranging from amusement to admiration. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, a friend of Haaland's, commented with laughing emojis, while City supporters flooded the replies with jokes tying back to Guardiola's comments, such as "Pep approved" and "No extra mince pies for Erling."
This wasn't Haaland's only festive social media activity. On Christmas Eve, he shared a cozy photo with girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen, captioned "God jul!" (Merry Christmas in Norwegian), which also drew playful reminders from fans about Guardiola's no-weight-gain rule. Earlier in the day, he spread holiday cheer with another post featuring Santa vibes.
Haaland's tongue-in-cheek update underscores his renowned professionalism. Known for a rigorous diet and training regimen that fuels his explosive performances – he has often spoken of consuming up to 6,000 calories daily in his intense phases – the 25-year-old has consistently maintained elite physical standards since joining City. His current form remains scorching, with recent milestones including surpassing records and contributing crucially to City's title challenges.
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