As European football’s greatest teams prepare for a tremendous struggle to grab the Norwegian phenomenon, Mino Raiola has claimed that there is a ‘Big Possibility’ Erling Haaland will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Rise of Haaland
Haaland, 21, has had a meteoric rise in recent years and has been linked with several clubs around Europe after scoring 74 goals in 72 games for Bundesliga club Dortmund.
Last summer, the Norwegian was connected with transfers to Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea, with his agent, Raiola, seen traveling to Spain to drum up interest in his client, who was valued at approximately £150 million at the time.
Haaland will be available for a bargain next summer thanks to a £64 million release clause in his contract, and Raiola has revealed that there is a big possibility he will leave Dortmund after the season.
“Maybe this summer, maybe the summer after. But there is a great chance that Erling will leave this summer. We will see,’ the super-agent told Sport 1.”
“Bayern, Real, Barcelona, City – these are the big clubs he can go to. City has won the championship five times in recent years, significantly more than United. When we moved to Dortmund, we all knew that this step would come.”
Dortmund Refused to let go of Haaland
Despite Raiola’s best efforts to secure a transfer for Haaland last summer, Dortmund dug in their heels and refused to let him go, despite having just sold Jadon Sancho to United for £73 million. Raiola praised Dortmund’s commitment to keeping Haaland for the rest of the season, even though a sale last summer would have netted the club much more money.
“When you see the passion of the people in Dortmund, that’s great,” he added. “Every player loves this yellow wall, including Erling.”
“He came because he wanted to play in front of this grandstand. Incidentally, it would have been much easier and perhaps even better for Dortmund to sell Erling in the summer. But you said no for footballing reasons. That deserves my greatest respect.”
Other clubs Looking for a New Striker
Premier League champions City are in desperate need of a new striker after missing out on Harry Kane in the summer transfer window. Pep Guardiola’s team lacks legitimate center striker alternatives, and Haaland’s arrival would alleviate that problem immediately. Alf-Inge Haaland, Haaland’s father, was a member of the club during his playing days.
Madrid is planning a major summer transfer window and is anxious to sign PSG star Kylian Mbappe, who has a contract expiring next summer. Bayern Munich has a history of acquiring Dortmund’s top players.
Barcelona is in the throes of a financial crisis, with debts exceeding £1 billion. Given their financial difficulties, a move for Haaland appears unlikely, despite the fact that the club has huge names like Frenkie de Jong, Sergino Dest, and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen on their transfer list.
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