Eyesore 10ft statue of Manchester City ace Erling Haaland STOLEN after complaints it looks nothing like him

AN eyesore 10ft statue of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been stolen.

The effigy — sculpted in full match kit from a tree trunk weighing nearly a ton — was nicked after complaints it looked nothing like the 22-year-old star.

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It had pride of place 50ft above a store in his home town of Bryne, Norway.

But a thief — suspected to be a disgruntled fan — used a crane to grab it at night.

Businessman Tore Sivertsen spent £10,000 commissioning the statue saluting City’s £85.5million signing. Even he conceded it was ugly.

It was hoisted into place two weeks ago and Mr Sivertsen planned to auction it to help fund a hospital in Tanzania until it suddenly vanished early on Wednesday.

Haaland, 22, arrived at City in the summer after scoring 86 goals in 89 matches for Borussia Dortmund.

He has netted a goal in each of three Premier League matches this season.

Tractor dealership boss Mr Sivertsen told The Sun: “We are all enormously proud of Erling.

“I thought it would be good to commission a statue to pay tribute.

“Some have complained it’s too ugly though, let’s face it, Erling is not a pretty guy. But I was still shocked that someone decided to steal it.”

Mr Sivertsen commissioned renowned wood sculptor Kjetil Barane, who took a year to craft it from a 100-year-old log.

The businessman said: “I accept it may not be to everyone’s taste, but I like it.

“It’s a work of art rather than a realistic representation of Erling Haaland.”

Reuters

The striker has netted a goal in each of three Premier League matches this season.[/caption]