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Former Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed regrets about being unable to bring Erling Haaland to Old Trafford despite being in the know of the Norwegian's talent since he was a teenager
Ex-Manchester United gaffer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed his failed attempts to get the Red Devils to sign Manchester City’s 50-goal striker Erling Haaland.
Solskjaer reveals Haaland regret
Haaland and Solskjaer worked briefly together at the Norwegian club Molde when the striker was still a teenager, and the gaffer was able to recognise his talent even then.
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After scoring 20 goals in 50 appearances for Molde, Solskjaer was convinced that Haaland would be one of the best forwards of his generation and urged Manchester United to sign the Norwegian prodigy before he even got the chance to coach the Red Devils, but the club’s management refused to part with a paltry sum to sign him before he moved to RB Salzburg.
Speaking about Haaland, Solskjaer said, “I called United about six months before I took over and told them that I'd got this striker that we had, but they didn't listen.
“I asked for £4 million for Haaland, but they didn't sign him.”
Instead of moving to Manchester United, Haaland went to RB Salzburg in the Swiss Superleague, before moving to the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and finally finding his way to the Premier League with the Red Devils' archrivals Manchester City.
Haaland maintains relationship with Solskjaer despite being in the ‘wrong side’ of Manchester
While with Manchester City, Haaland has gone on to smash records in the Premier League, becoming the first player in the league’s history to score 35 goals in a single season and the first in its history to score 50 goals in all competitions in one season.
Haaland recently won the FWA Premier League Player of the Year award and could be on course for more accolades at the end of the season.
Despite not being able to join Solskjaer in Manchester United, Haaland still has a special place in his heart for his old boss, and shared a memory of what Solskjaer told him upon his move to Manchester City.
He said, “When I signed with City he congratulated me and wrote to me 'Good luck on going to the wrong side of Manchester.”
Haaland also added “We talk sometimes. As you know, he had a huge impact on my career when I was at Molde. He's a good guy.”
Solskjaer will return to Old Trafford for the first time since he was replaced as head coach of Manchester United when the Red Devils play Wolves this weekend.
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