Haaland snubs ex-Man City team-mate after Odegaard challenge

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Erling Haaland made his feelings towards Bernardo Silva clear at full-time in Norway's 2-1 Nations League defeat to Portugal, moments after the Manchester City midfielder had caught Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard with a late challenge.

Silva, who was introduced late on as Portugal saw out the win, was booked for swiping at Odegaard's ankles long after the Arsenal skipper had moved the ball on. The Norwegian tried to shake the knock off but was visibly limping for the remainder of the contest.

The pair exchanged angry words on the pitch, and Odegaard did not soften his stance afterwards. "It doesn't belong on a football field. It's a shame that people do that," he said. "It's a head fog from him. Just kicks me down long after I've played the ball away. I don't understand what he's doing."

A cold handshake between former team-mates

Silva's response was rather more dismissive. Asked about the flashpoint as he passed through the mixed zone, the 32-year-old told reporters: "It's football, my friend."

Cameras then picked up the briefest of exchanges between Silva and Haaland, who spent several seasons together at the Etihad. The Norway striker offered a handshake but declined a prolonged embrace, and he was noticeably warmer in his conversation with Ruben Dias moments later.

As football.london report, the defeat itself may have played a part in Haaland's mood, though the challenge on his international captain is the more obvious explanation.

Odegaard appears to have escaped serious damage

The key detail for Arsenal is that Odegaard looks to have avoided an ankle problem, with Norway facing two further Nations League fixtures in this window. Any issue for the 27-year-old would have been felt immediately in north London, where he remains the side's creative reference point.

It caps an unusual few days for the Norway camp. Haaland had been due to face the media before the game but was withdrawn from those duties, with Benfica pair Fredrik Aursnes and Andreas Schjelderup stepping in. Manager Stale Solbakken explained in his pre-match press conference that he wanted his striker focused solely on the match.

Haaland duly played the full 90 minutes and scored, though Norway still came away beaten.

Much of the build-up had been dominated by the guilty verdict returned against Manchester City over their alleged 114 financial breaches — a topic that could yet reshape the Premier League title picture. An appeal is understood to be coming, but an unsuccessful one could bring a points sanction significant enough to remove City from the title race entirely, with relegation also a stated possibility.

Odegaard and Arsenal will focus on the more immediate matter: getting their captain through the rest of the international break intact and back into the fold with his ankle in one piece.