Haaland has enjoyed another strong campaign in 2025-2026; he leads the Premier League Golden Boot race with 25 goals, three ahead of Brentford's Igor Thiago.

The 25 year-old has also directly contributed to the most goals (32) in the English top flight this term, with City still hoping to complete a domestic treble, albeit they are now title outsiders with Arsenal five points clear.

The Norwegian joined City in 2022 but signed a new nine-and-a-half-year deal last year, tying him to the club until 2034.

That contract was rumoured to be one of the most lucrative deals in sports history.

Pimenta praised Haaland's intelligence, as well as City's ability to conduct business at the highest level.

"[They are] very serious, they're very organised," Pimenta said. "They're very big. They know what they're doing, they have a lot of experience, they don't really need anything, they have everything. So we don't have any leverage.

"He's a lot like us in his way of being – it's very informal, very comfortable, very relaxed, very low profile.

"Football, for him, is the most serious game you can play.

"I think people often have the impression that a football player's job is easier than it actually is.

"I often say that high-performance football players have to be very intelligent, so don't underestimate the intelligence of those at the top of the pyramid. He has to be very dedicated."