FOR Sander Berge, it was uncomfortable at first to watch his close pals Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard slug it out.
Now he says that it's compulsive viewing. Striker Haaland and his Manchester City team-mates play host to Odegaard and his Arsenal pals at the Etihad on Sunday in a potential Premier League title decider.
Berge has known Emirates skipper Odegaard since they first played for Norway's youth team aged 15, and he has been friends with Haaland for the last five years.
He spends time with them away from football and says it was initially weird to watch them perform for two of the world's biggest clubs.
But he is well used to it now and, like everyone else, can't wait to watch their next showdown on Sunday. "It's special for me because when I was growing up, who would you watch from Norway?" said the Burnley midfielder.
"Now two of my closest mates are two of the absolute biggest players with two of the best teams in the world. It's been a little bit strange because there they are, going up against each other, fighting for their club teams, and then they are together with the national team.
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