Manchester United dropped out at the race for the signature of Erling Haaland to Borussia Dortmund and the young striker has shown that it was down the strategy the club. The 19-year-old became one of the talents in world football following his exploits for Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga and Champions League. The Norwegian has netted 28 times in just 22 games this season, including eight goals in six Champions League matches, earning himself a move to a club.
That club was Dortmund, who made the signing for just £ 18m, although Manchester United was extremely interested in signing him before the Germans. As manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had worked at Molde, the Red Devils were believed to possess an edge in the race for the striker, but it wasn’t enough to bring him. Haaland has now explained that it had been when he made his own choice the vision that Dortmund needed for his career that made the distinction. ‘The club stated directly: “we need you. We like your playing style and we want to get you here,”’ Haaland informed BVB.TV, via Bundesliga.com. ‘I enjoyed how they spoke to me and that is what triggered me. That’s when I felt that Dortmund and I was a match’
Together with the Bundesliga on a winter break, Haaland is yet to make his debut for its club and will look in friendlies before a competitive fixture on 18 January at Augsburg. He is settling in well, though, and is enjoying the atmosphere into his new surroundings, crediting his new next-door neighbour for assisting his adjustment Mats Hummels. ‘Mats seems like a wonderful man, and that I also have a Danish man there with Thomas [Delaney], so he and I can talk my mom language. ‘He’s also a good man, but I believe they are. It appears to be an extremely relaxed atmosphere in the category and I like it so much’ The assertion from Haaland tallies with what a source told the Athletic of his reasons for moving to Germany over England:’Ole Gunnar Solskjaer flying outside to Salzburg to match with the participant was all good and well but Dortmund had kept in close touch over many months and drawn up very concrete plans for his livelihood development. ‘And unlike United, they had a powerful track-record of helping young players get to the next level at a bar that’s been a regular in the Champions League.’
