Manchester City star Erling Haaland is said to be ‘smitten’ with fellow footballer Isabel Haugseng Johansen after secretly dating for months.

Erling, 22, has been enjoying a fortnight’s break during the World Cup given Norway did not qualify, and has been enjoying the time off in Marbella with Isabel, 18.

The pair are said to have known each other for years in their hometown of Bryne after both playing for their local football club but their friendship blossomed into romance.

Cute couple: Manchester City star Erling Haaland is said to be ‘smitten’ with fellow footballer Isabel Haugseng Johansen after secretly dating for months (pictured in Marbella last week)

A source told The Sun: ‘It seems to be pretty serious. Isabel has travelled to Germany and England to see Erling and now she’s been with him in Marbella.

‘Erling has the world at his feet and women queuing up to be his partner. But he’s a very sensible lad and it makes perfect sense he’s with a girl from his home town who he’s known for years.

‘He needs to be able to trust the people in his life and just concentrate on football.’

MailOnline has contacted Erling for comment.

New love: The pair are said to have known each other for years in their hometown of Bryne after both playing for their local football club but their friendship blossomed into romance

The footballer was recently dubbed the ‘best striker in the world’ by football manager Jürgen Klopp, 55.

It was reported last month that Erling’s obsession with sleep, diet and specialised training have been key to his success on the sports field. 

Erling is obsessed with proper sleep and how it improves performance, describing it as ‘perhaps the most important thing in life’. So he has worked at perfecting routines.

He wears orange-tinted, blue-light glasses in the hours before drifting off as they block out high energy emitted from natural light and digital screens.

Sleep is scheduled to start between 10pm and 10.30pm most nights, with electronic devices switched off way before then.

He is often not contactable, his phone on ‘do not disturb’ to avoid distractions.

His diet is balanced with carbohydrates — including his dad’s lasagne — and a love of fish.

‘Some players are scared of carbs after growing up in academies and needing to hit targets,’ one source said. ‘Let’s cut out rice, pasta… but that’s your fuel for running.’

He reportedly does extra training sessions to perfect his footballing technique and relies on meditation to help him focus.

He has played football all his life, being the son of professional footballer Alfie Haaland.

He’s one to watch: The footballer was recently dubbed the ‘best striker in the world’ by football manager Jürgen Klopp, 55