Manchester City and Norway star Erling Haaland has an adopted an unusual nighttime habit as he bids  to maximise his physical fitness.

Obsessed with getting the best  sleep he possibly can, the 23-year-old striker tapes his mouth  shut when he gets into bed at night!

This forces him to breathe through his nose, in the process helping to slow  his breathing, prevent throat dryness and filter out foreign particles.

The practice also gets the body into the habit of breathing through the nose, which is said to benefit blood flow to the muscles during sport.

Haaland isn’t the only athlete who mouth-tapes at night. Others who  do likewise include tennis star Iga Swiatek, the women’s world No. 1.

Although studies have shown the benefits of nasal breathing at night, experts also warn of the risks of sleeping with your mouth taped shut.

"This is one of the most dangerous trends I’ve heard of in some time,” a Kentucky-based GP, Dr David Culpepper, told FOX News in 2022. 

It can worsen conditions like sleep apnea, risks suffocation if your nasal cavity is blocked by a cold or allergies, and could see you choke if you vomit.

Mouth-taping is just one part of Haaland’s unique daily routine. It also features a 6,000-calories-a-day diet dominated by liver and cow’s heart.