Man City’s ‘goal-scoring machine’, Erling Haaland, has cut his long, iconic blonde hair and is now keeping it in a buzz cut for the new season.

In a video shared on social media, the Norwegian shared a story about how a former Manchester United striker, Zlatan Ibrahimović, advised him against cutting his long hair, saying that it was the source of his strength and exploits.

However, the 26-year-old striker did just that ahead of the new season to mark a new beginning, as he said after sharing his new look on social media on Sunday, August 23.

He recounted how “Zlatan told me never to cut your hair because your strength is in your hair” in a video in which the Norwegian international recorded the process on his YouTube channel.

Before he finally began the haircut, in a move contrary to Zlatan’s advice, he said: “I want Man City fans to sing ‘Who the f---ing hell is that?’ when they see me.”

The Man City striker then proceeded to video call various friends and teammates, including Oasis star Noel Gallagher, Jack Grealish and former boss Pep Guardiola.

When he called Ibrahimović, he was greeted by a look of horror and a “What the f--- did you do?”

“You lost a bet or what?” Ibrahimović joked. “Oh my God, block me and erase my number. I will be honest with you. I'm always honest.”

When Ibrahimović asked him if his haircut would make him faster, Haaland replied: “I hope so.”

Haaland started in City’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth, as late goals from Marc Guéhi and Joško Gvardiol spared their blushes in Enzo Maresca’s first league game in charge of the club.

Meanwhile, after Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 at the World Cup in June, Ibrahimović, who was a pundit on Fox Sports, confirmed that he had told Haaland never to cut his hair.

“I truly believed that when I was playing, when things were going well, I had my ponytail. I remember when Haaland showed up on the big stage; we had the same agent, who unfortunately passed away a couple of years ago.

“I saw him with his long ponytail, and my agent was telling me, ‘Listen, I saw Zlatan in him,’ and I said, ‘You keep that hair because that hair is going to take you where you want to go,’” Ibrahimović said on Fox Sports after Norway’s victory.