Anderson Responds to Haaland's 'Diving King' Moniker: Finds It Quite Amusing

2026-08-14

Recently, Elliot Anderson reacted with a light-hearted demeanor to Erling Haaland's teasing nickname of "Diving King." The new Manchester City signing faced Haaland during the World Cup, where England met Norway in the quarter-finals in Miami.

During that match, Norway appeared to take the lead in the second half, but a goal was disallowed by VAR after Heggem fouled Anderson prior to scoring. A month later, Haaland mentioned Anderson again on social media, jokingly referring to him as "Diving King," evidently still reflecting on that controversial moment.

However, there was no tension between the two during a pre-season training session yesterday. When asked if he had noticed Haaland's post, the 23-year-old Anderson replied, "I saw it; it spread quite widely. He keeps calling me Diving King!"

He added, "The logic is quite amusing. Haaland was in good form today, and he has helped me adapt to the team faster. He’s genuinely a friendly guy."

While England triumphed 2-1 in that quarter-final, they were reversed out in the semi-finals by Argentina. Anderson, a former Nottingham Forest midfielder, took a three-week break but stated he still needs time to digest the loss at the Atalanta Stadium.

"It was tough; I still feel a bit upset inside," Anderson admitted. "Football has its highs and lows, and the key is how to bounce back. I've spent three weeks reflecting, but the new season is upon us."

He continued, "Thinking about how well I performed on the World Cup stage still fills me with confidence." This summer, Anderson became the highest transfer fee player in British history, although that record was shortly surpassed by his England teammate Morgan Rogers after his move to Chelsea.

Regarding the transfer fee discussions, Anderson noted, "My personal performance is my primary focus; I must concentrate on what I can control. I'm confident in showing everyone my capabilities. Morgan is a good friend, and I’m happy for him to achieve his move."

Despite Manchester United's interest in Anderson, he never wavered in his determination to join Manchester City. "I've been following Manchester City for the past decade. Guardiola leaving had no effect on me. This is a great club with top-class players."

"I’m eager to fight alongside players like that, which motivates me to improve every day." Discussing his first training session with Enzo Maresca, Anderson said, "I enjoy collaborating with him; you can feel his dedication to details."

On Manchester United's pursuit, he acknowledged, "I was aware of these matters, and I had to make an important decision, and I believe I made the right choice." Before joining Manchester City, he ran into former United stars Ryan Giggs and Phil Bardsley at a golf course in Portugal.

Although both attempted to persuade him towards the red side of Manchester, Anderson stated, "We had a great conversation. In making my decision, I ultimately chose Manchester City." When asked if the two former stars ever shook his resolve, he firmly replied, "No."