Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he told Manchester United to sign Erling Haaland on two separate occasions, before he joined Man City.
Haaland has become one of football’s most prolific forwards across spells at Borussia Dortmund andMan Citybut his top flight journey started at Norwegian side Molde, who were managed by Solskjaer.
Solskjaer handed him his debut as a 16-year-old and 18 months later he had joined Austrian side RB Salzburg and was regarded as one of the best prospects in world football.
Manchester United ignore Solskjaer’s Haaland advice
Before his move to Austria, Solskjaer recommended Haaland to United but they ignored his advice.
“I had him [Erling Haaland] in Molde, for two seasons. The summer before I got here [joined Manchester United], I rang the club and said ‘You’ve got to sign this boy – he’ll be top class’,”Solskjaertold theStick to Football podcast.
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“I tell the club straight away to buy him while he has a release clause. We knew that then, and no one else would’ve paid the money – €20million, it would’ve been a bargain. Even though with his links with Alfie [Haaland], and Manchester City and Leeds.
“It was the club’s decision to not go for it then. We never made bids or went in for him, until after he started scoring for Salzburg. By then, Borussia Dortmund were there, Juventus were there, everyone was there. His release clause then was still good – €60million.
“He’s got more than just being a great lad. He’s such a team player, and one-on-one with a keeper, he doesn’t think about his own stats. He passes if someone else is through and it’ll be a 100% goal. He’s a gem.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjær was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you bySky Bet.
Sean McCormick was the Sports Editor at Dexerto. He has a BA in Sports Journalism and over the last seven years has worked as a writer, reporter and an editor across titles such as Chronicle Live, Leeds Live and Manchester Evening News covering the region’s football clubs and sports stars. Sean loves football, boxing, MMA, darts and NBA.
