There has never been a footballer as wanted as Erling Haaland. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may have been the dream signings of all the great clubs in the world over the past decade and it is likely that Kylian Mbappé will one day get into that category. However, none of them are currently in the position that Haaland enjoys today. The Norwegian striker can choose any top team he wants.
Barcelona has paid Messi so well over the years and won so many trophies that the Argentine star only now, approaching his 34th birthday, has the opportunity to think about capitalizing his hierarchy within the free agent market. summer. Even if you decide to leave, your high salary and high demands will limit your options.
Likewise, Cristiano, the current Juventus forward, was linked with the Manchester United and Real Madrid teams during the best years of his career, until both clubs felt able to let him go. In Mbappé’s case, Paris Saint-Germain’s financial might will always give them some control over the future of the 22-year-old striker, even though he is a much-desired player.
Haaland’s situation is different: the unique combination of the 20-year-old’s prodigious talent and his contract status with Borussia Dortmund means that when summer arrives, he will be the footballer with the world at his feet. Haaland is the sport’s most sought-after asset, precisely at a time when virtually every major club needed a prolific center forward. Haaland and his advisers are smart enough to know that they can step back while serving only as spectators of the struggle to secure their services.
In October 2019, shortly after Haaland scored a hat-trick in FC Salzburg’s shirt during his Champions League debut against Genk, his father Alfie told ESPN that every step in Haaland’s career would be taken after deep reasoning, rather than taking it. jump for the first opportunity that presented itself.
“If he has options, you have to be careful what you choose,” Alfie said. “We analyze the history of the club, the technical director, its philosophy.”
Two months later, Haaland vetoed his transfer from Salzburg to Manchester United, favoring Dortmund – all because of the opportunities for his development that the jump to Germany offered him. Multiple sources have informed ESPN that Haaland and his advisers believe the decision is the right one over time and that any future steps will be taken based on the same long-term perspective.
There is a growing chance that the next step will take place this summer, a year before he could invoke the € 75 million (£ 64.5 million) buyout clause included in his contract with Dortmund. The BVB knows they can sell it for at least double that number after the end of this season, and if they fail to catapult from sixth place in the Bundesliga table to be in the top four and to qualify for the next edition of the Bundesliga. Champions, selling your listed assets can become a financial necessity.
However, which club has the best chance of bringing in Haaland? Don’t be fooled into believing that the Norwegian will simply follow the scent of money to sign the most lucrative contract on the table.
Most of the major clubs in the world love you. United tried in vain to sign him in the last tournament. Despite this, coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still considers the player he trained as a teenager when he wore the Molde jersey as his first target.
For her part, Chelsea also believes they can finalize a negotiation for the wonderful Norwegian and take him to Stamford Bridge; while Manchester City, having determined the need to sign a long-term replacement for a Sergio “Kun” Agüero on the verge of expiration of his contract, emerges as the lead candidate to replace the son van Alfie, who added 41 appearances for City between 2000. and 2002.
The COVID-19 pandemic will most likely affect Liverpool’s ability to be a major contender; at Anfield, however, they retain an interest in the young goalscorer. For its part, Real Madrid is constantly the subject of rumors of an attempted and costly “Haaland operation” in the Spanish media.
Juventus has targeted Haaland since his internship at Molde and could try to re-sign him if Cristiano leaves the club in Turin, freeing up space on his payroll. With regard to Bayern Munich, coach Hansi Flick has said that “many things are possible in life. I can’t rule it out ”when asked about the current European champion’s potential interest in bringing in Haaland, after the young figure of his perennial rival in Germany scored two goals against the Bavarians in Der Klassiker last weekend.
Sources close to Haaland refuse to disclose player preferences regarding his next club; However, they are aware that the interest of all of the above teams is genuine and that each of them represents different challenges and opportunities. Likewise, everyone has points for and against.
From the outside, the city seems to offer the perfect package. They have the financial strength to complete an operation and under Pep Guardiola they probably offer the greatest opportunity to compete for the big trophies. City is desperate for the Champions League, as is Haaland, and it is clear that the combination of the two would represent formidable strength.
However, Haaland is a player with ambitions to play in all major leagues in Europe, on par with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and a move to City would stand in the way of that intention. In short, City doesn’t usually lose its big stars; therefore a jump to the Etihad Stadium in Manchester would be a long term. On the other hand, United would challenge him to become the man who would lead the club back to the top of world football, as a modern day version of Eric Cantona. United has lost its place among the elite clubs that often compete for the greatest trophies in football, but the commercial value of Haaland as a star player would be enormous, thanks to the immense popularity of the Red Devils worldwide. And that could be an attractive offer, especially if Solksjaer, who has a close relationship with Haaland, stays in the technical direction.
Chelsea could match City and United’s cash offerings and take advantage of London’s striking cosmopolitan vibe to entice Haaland to play at Stamford Bridge. Only City surpasses him in trophies won in England in the last 10 years; As a result, Haaland would sign for a club with the capacity to win trophies, despite not having much regularity, thanks to the increasingly shorter work cycles of its technical directors. Liverpool’s lost streak of the past few weeks could cost them their place in the next edition of the Champions League, putting an end to the distant pursuit of signing Haaland. However, should you be tempted to play at Anfield and add your name to the club’s roster of legendary figures, the romantic appeal of signing for the reigning Premier League champion might convince you.
In the case of Madrid, the meringues can surpass United in global appeal and quality of their figures. They can also offer Haaland the opportunity to dominate in Spain’s La Liga, just as Cristiano and Messi have been doing for years. And while Madrid’s Champions League hierarchy is a strong draw, doubts remain about the White House’s economic capacity to take on Haaland in the post-pandemic era.
Juventus can offer Haaland to play in the Champions League and be another springboard on its way to the future. If Haaland succeeds in Italy, he can leave for England or Spain before he is 25.
And then there is Bayern. Robert Lewandowski has already amply demonstrated the wealth that awaits a center forward ready to leave Dortmund to camp at Munich’s Allianz Arena, and Haaland could be the perfect long-term successor to the 32-year-old striker, who is also playing with the squad from Poland. Although, like City, Bayern would offer many trophies, but also strive to keep him in their ranks for 10 years.
Whatever happens in the future, Haaland will continue to be the big winner. With such a string of clubs on your heels, it is impossible to make the wrong choice. Several sources have made it clear to ESPN that if there’s one factor that won’t affect Haaland’s next decision, it’s money. It all depends on finding the most tempting challenge and captivating the most engaging story. That chapter has yet to be written.