A Manchester City star wrote ‘f*** off’ on Erling Haaland’s match ball after the striker scored yet another hat-trick in the Premier League. He struck all three of his side’s goals in their 3-1 win against West Ham on Saturday.

Haaland already has a remarkable seven goals in just three games this season. The 24-year-old has scored successive hat-tricks against West Ham and Ipswich and scored in the opening day victory over Chelsea.

Incredibly, no Premier League team other than City has scored more goals than Haaland in the opening three rounds of the Premier League. But some of his team-mates already appear tired of his exploits in 2024-25.

Players who score hat-tricks often ask their colleagues to sign the match ball they receive after the game. Some stars have been keen to write funny messages, with Cole Palmer inadvertently showing last season that he had been called a ‘s*** player’ by one team-mate.

City’s players are no different and have written jokey messages on Haaland’s match balls. In a picture of Haaland flying back to Manchester on a plane, the words ‘f*** off’ can be seen on the ball but it is unclear who wrote the message.

Haaland’s hat-trick was his eighth in the Premier League, presenting his team-mates with plenty of opportunity to sign his match balls. In bad news for those bored of taking a pen to the ball every few weeks, Haaland insists he has been re-energised by a lengthy holiday during the off-season.

His team-mates can therefore expect plenty more hat-tricks.

"Three points is the most important thing so I'm happy," he told Sky Sports. "I feel good, I feel energised. I had a long vacation and pre-season.

“I feel good. The years I've been here have been really fast. Now I've got some rest in my body and my feet. Now I'm ready for more.”

City head into the international break with a perfect record from their first three matches. And that is vitally important in a title race where every point counts, with 10-man Arsenal only managing a draw at home to Brighton.

The Gunners were in control and led 1-0 through Kai Havertz before Declan Rice’s red card allowed Brighton back into the game. Joao Pedro equalised and the visitors had plenty of chances to win the match.