Gary Neville defends Erling Haaland in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Cantona comparison

Gary Neville has leapt to the defence of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland following criticism levied at the star for being arrogant.

Edited footage emerged on social media of sections of an interview after Dortmund's match with Schalke involving the 19-year-old, who gave a series of short and abrupt answers while seeming disinterested.

Various media figures took aim at the youngster, including Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan, who slammed the player's manners.

Morgan said: "You’re a good player young man but your arrogance with the media is unedifying."

But Neville feels football should be welcoming Haaland's approach rather than vilifying him, and claimed the Dortmund star reminded him of some of the games more colourful characters.

"He's a young player under pressure, the fact he's doing interviews is a good thing," Neville said on Sky Sports.

"I think we constantly talk about having no characters in the game, players coming out and giving mundane answers that show no arrogance.

"He looks to me like a massive personality. Someone who, when you think of [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic over the years, [Eric] Cantona in interviews. The people who make you the most fascinated when you listen to them.

"I hope we've got someone here who's on the brink of doing things differently."

Swedish superstar Ibrahimovic has produced no shortage of outrageous quotes, often building up his own inflated ego, while Cantona is remembered for his bizarre 'when seagulls follow the trawler' line.

Neville said he felt it was unfair that Haaland was being judged on an interview where only certain clips had been shown to make the forward out in a bad light.

He added: "There are a lot of interviews on our channels who come on and they're almost scripted.

"The idea that a young player comes out, shows a little bit of arrogance and spikiness, we should be welcoming it.

"He certainly shouldn't be criticised in my opinion."

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