Erling Haaland Returns to Norway Carrying Taxidermy Raccoon from Texas
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland arrived in Oslo with a $750 taxidermy raccoon bought in Dallas, prompting a surge in sales for the store and a wave of online memes.
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland touched down in Oslo after Norway’s 2-1 quarter-final loss to England, carrying a taxidermied raccoon purchased in Dallas, Texas. The animal, dubbed “Whiskey Raccoon,” is mounted on a wooden base and appears to sip from a bottle of wild-berry gin. Haaland bought the souvenir from Wild Bill’s Western Store, where he also selected a cowboy hat, boots and a T-shirt with a Texas-themed slogan.
The store’s owner, Julie Newport, said the purchase generated a noticeable increase in orders and led the shop to begin shipping internationally. She noted that the raccoon became the store’s most popular item, overtaking its previous best-seller, a large jelly bean. Haaland also signed two FIFA balls for Newport and left an autographed hat on display.
After the photo was shared, social-media users created numerous memes and jokes about the unusual keepsake, spreading the story across platforms.