Why Manchester United Decided To Not Sign Erling Braut Haaland
Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Erling Braut Haaland is secured by Borussia Dortmund for a bargain sum of £18 million in a long-term deal.
The Red Devils were long touted to secure the promising starlet, with many reports claiming direct contact was made with the higher-ups at Old Trafford including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer himself and the player.
However, even if such an encounter did occur, the parties involved clearly did not manage to convince the teenager, ensuring that the Dortmund deal went through.
However, there is now a fresh potential explanation about the whole fiasco.
According to Rob Dawson of ESPN, Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola’s proposed terms were not acceptable for Manchester United.
United were interested in Haaland but refused to meet terms of the deal proposed by Raiola and his representatives. Wanted a buyout and percentage of future sale. United said no. Presumably Dortmund have agreed.
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) December 29, 2019
This is certainly an interesting claim as one does wonder just how much or to what degree the whole deal may have differed from the one that Dortmund eventually agreed to. Reports had even suggested that this final transfer still saw Raiola make a decent cut financially.
As of such, it may be the case that United found the quote price to be too high, either the whole package, or perhaps the agent fees quoted by Raiola. There has been precedent in the past for such a scenario to have occurred, with Raiola himself at the heart of matters.
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Regardless, the relatively bargain rate does make things look a tad bit awkward for United who are clearly the financially superior side. If Haaland does end up becoming a world-class striker for Dortmund who is able to replicate his goal-scoring prowess, there is bound to be criticism hurled at the recruitment at Old Trafford.
Then again, the point of contention may have not been an economical one at all and may rather fall on the fact that Haaland allegedly required guaranteed game time. This is clearly a requirement that Solskjaer couldn’t have fully agreed to.
In that case, Raiola would have done an impeccable job at securing Dortmund for the starlet.