Ronaldo, Zlatan among my idols as a child — Erling Haaland

Dortmund, April 26 (IANS): Borussia Dortmund’s rising young star Erling Haaland has said that Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among his idols growing up.

“I had a lot of idols as a child. I have to mention two players: Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” the club’s official website quoted Haaland as saying.

“Always stay hungry. Always be on the lookout for goals and balls,” he said.

Asked how he is spending his time during the pandemic, Haaland said: “I coach and meditate a lot, and play FIFA with the guys.”

German Football League (DFL) Chief Executive Christian Seifert has said that it is hoping to restart league football in the country on May 9 provided they get the green light from the country’s government.

The German football season was halted on March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After a meeting with the top clubs of Germany that comprise the top-flight Bundesliga, Seifert told reporters in a video conference that while the league is ready to return next month, the final decision rests on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government.

Germany is among the few countries in the world that have seen a reduction in the number of new cases of coronavirus infection over the past few weeks.

Seifert admitted however that holding matches behind closed doors may be the only feasible options in case the league restarts next month.

Leaders of the states of Bavaria and North-Rhine Westphalia — homes of German powerhouses Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively — have supported the move to restart football.