After Haaland, here comes Tjaaland

 

There is no need to explain who Erling Haaland is! At the moment, he is an absolute sensation in world football due to his jaw-dropping goal-scoring abilities amalgamated with power and intensity. At a very young age, Haaland hit the headlines while playing for the Norway young team and Red Bull Salzburg. After moving to Borussia Dortmund, his intensity remains the same and his move to another bigger club in Europe seems a matter of time.

While Erling Haaland creating havoc in front of the goal, his cousin Albert Braut Tjaaland displaying the same intensity at a very younger age.

Tjaaland has an impressive record at the youth level and has started off on the right foot as a professional as he notched shortly after coming on as a substitute on his first senior appearance.

Scoring goals in style and in plenty seems to run in families and Molde has been the club to witness such.

The Norwegian club may well be wishing they held on to the Borussia Dortmund superstar a little longer, considering his current valuation at more than £100million when they cashed in just £7m from his sale two years ago.

But Molde think tank will no doubt be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of holding another potential star in their ranks, after Haaland's cousin, Albert Braut Tjaaland scored on his debut for the club.

After starting football education at the local lower-league side Rosseland, Tjaaland followed in the footsteps of Haaland by joining second-division outfit Bryne in 2015, where he was immediately enrolled into the Under-13s despite being just 11 years old.

A prolific goal-scorer through his five years at the club, Tjaaland worked his way through the various age-group sides while averaging over a goal per game before making his first appearance with the senior side during a friendly against Egersunds in March 2020.

Molde became interested to sign this young prospect.

Tjaaland took just 10 minutes to register his first goal, too, firing home in a Norwegian Cup clash after coming on as a substitute in the win over Spjelkavik.

The 17-year-old was put through on goal in injury time having joined the fray off the bench on 82 minutes.

And given the chance to get his name on the score sheet, Tjaaland displayed similar composure to his better-known relative to slot the ball past the goalkeeper.

He then wheeled away in celebration as his teammates rushed to congratulate him on his first senior goal for the club.

Not that Molde would have been particularly surprised to see Tjaaland find the net.

The teenager's track record already boasts 69 goals in 37 games for Molde's youth teams, while he also bagged 40 goals in 31 games for former club Byrne FK.

It was at Byrne where Haaland started his career, and Tjaland will be dreaming of emulating his cousin in the years to come.

Naturally being related to the 21-year-old goal machine is attracting plenty of hype already, with Molde boss Erling Moe keen to keep his player's feet on the ground.

“I have seen some of it on social media,” Moe told Eurosport back in April.

“He (Tjaaland) is an exciting young boy who really has some exciting qualities, so I think it must be possible to calm down a bit, yes.”

“It's a bit like that when you post something on social media at the moment, it spreads like wildfire.”

“He has a great future ahead of him if he does the everyday things 100 percent and properly.”

“I think Erling is a few steps ahead yet.”

“It's cool what he does, but I hear about it (the comparisons) often, and it can be nice to let it go from time to time,” Tjaaland said when asked about Haaland by Jaerbladet in 2020, before going onto outline his own future plans.

“In the short term, I really want to get into the age-specific national team. In the long run, I hope to be able to make a living from playing football.”

Tjaaland is not in a rush, rather, he wishes to flourish gradually because at this age he knows how important it is to keep the feet on the ground and progress with a calm mind. 

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 21/08/2021 After Haaland, here comes Tjaaland 

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Faisal Caesar