Is Erling Haaland the first superstar in his prime to join the Premier League and succeed instantly?

[The Viking]

Few days ago, I watched Sky Sports' pre-match talk ahead of Man City vs. Leeds game. In the studio, Jamie Redknapp & Micah Richards talked about Erling Haaland & how phenomenal of a footballer he is.

During their conversation, Redknapp said something interesting that really caught my attention.

"Erling Haaland has been a breath of fresh air when the Premier League needed it most. Normally, players have joined the EPL to become superstars. We missed out prime Cristiano Ronaldo & Messi hasn't played here. Haaland is the 1st genuine superstar to join the EPL & lightning up"

At first, I genuinely believed that Jamie Redknapp was 100% delusional and only made that statement to get reactions from people like myself. But after a while, I really thought about it and I've to admit Jamie Redknapp was actually spot-on for once in his career as a pundit...

The Premier League has extremely rarely been the main destination for the absolute best players in the world at the height of their careers when making a move. If anything, some of the best Premier League players at the peak of their powers have moved on aboard such as Cristiano Ronaldo (1st stint), Suarez, Beckham, Owen, RvN, Coutinho (1st stint), Henry, Hazard, Bale (1st stint) etc.

We've never seen the likes of Lewandowski, Messi, Neymar, Maradona Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Buffon, Totti, Roberto Baggio, Maldini, Cruyff and many other generational talents in their prime coming to the Premier League. I believe Erling Haaland is the rare exception.

Nearly every foreinger who's regarded as a superstar & one of the best players in Premier League history, were not rated as superstars when they arrived to England. The likes of Cristiano (1st stint), Thierry Henry, Salah, Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero etc. fits in that category were all great players in the category.

Do you agree the notion of Haaland being the 1st superstar in prime to come to Premier League and succeed instantly?

 

[Cellarite]

Yep.

 

[Chi-town blues]

No .
Nunez

 

[remember arthur mann]

No .
Nunez

 

[Corky]

Klinsmann wasn't bad. First of his kind in some ways.

 

[aguero93:20]

No .
Nunez

Djemba Djemba
Bebe

 

[Chi-town blues]

Djemba Djemba
Bebe

ahhaa completely forgot about the legend Bebe.

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

Klinsmann wasn't bad. First of his kind in some ways.

It’s a good shout, can’t think of a better one

 

[The Viking]

Klinsmann wasn't bad. First of his kind in some ways.

Klinnsman was quite controversial in his Monaco and & Internazionale exits. He was a great player in his own right. But Klinsmann was never a superstar with Haaland-level expectation at the time when he joined the EPL.

 

[Coatigan]

Nearly every foreinger who's regarded as a superstar & one of the best players in Premier League history, were not rated as superstars when they arrived to England. The likes of Cristiano (1st stint), Thierry Henry, Salah, Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero etc. fits in that category were all great players in the category.

If you are arguing this for those players, then Haaland has to fall into the same category as well for me. I.e he wasnt 'a superstar' when he arrived.

So, no.