The Red Devils boss was Eager to Signal his fellow Norwegian, but a lack of support elsewhere in Old Trafford saw the striker opt for the Bundesliga
Manchester United missing out on the signing of Erling Haaland since the entire club wasn’t behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preferred goal, claims the star’s father.
Alf Inge Haaland is no stranger to the Red Devils, having tussled together on numerous occasions during his period with Leeds United and Manchester City in the Premier League.
It was while playing for City he endured a horrendous knee injury following a rash challenge by United captain Roy Keane in April 2001.
In January, meanwhile, Erling turned down the opportunity to move to United in favour of Borussia Dortmund, where he made an instant, goal-laden effect following his move.
And his dad believes United only have themselves to blame for failing to seal a bargain.
“You don’t know how it would go to different clubs. It might have been great, too,’ he advised TV2.
“We will never get a response to that. But we are extremely satisfied with the clubs he’s been in.
“You’ve got to go to a club in which the entire club needs you, not just the coach.
“I believe that’s the main thing, along with the way the club has been around the past five or 10 years and what direction they have taken.”
The prior Norway international’s thoughts were echoed by ex-United favorite Paul Ince, who believes that the decision not to fulfill the forward’s $20 million (#17m/$22m) release clause was a mistake.
“If they would like to close the gap on Manchester City and Liverpool they then require a world-class striker,” the ex-England global told Target in March.
“They had the opportunity with Haaland, the young child who travelled to Dortmund, that was sad really. He’s a very, very good young player who will improve and you can not let people like that slip through the web.
“That was disappointing that they could not get him. They’ve got to get somebody in who gets 20-25 goals a season.”
Haaland smashed 12 goals in 11 appearances for Dortmund in all competitions prior to the Bundesliga effort was brought to a stop as a result of coronavirus outbreak, and including his haul for Red Bull Salzburg before the January movement boasts an incredible 41 strikes in 38 matches in 2019-20.
