Raiola Insists It Was Haaland’s Decision To Join Dortmund
Popular player agent, Mino Raiola has refuted claims that he had a hand in helping Erling Haaland deciding on a move to Borussia Dortmund over Manchester United.
The RB Salzburg striker had contacts with Manchester United but oped for a move to the German giants instead.
The Norwegian striker snubbed the Red devils for Dortmund, insists Raiola, who lashed out at suggestions that the Premier League heavyweights withdrew from the race for the striker.
A number of top European clubs were in the race to sign the tall forward, one of which was Manchester United.
It was hoped that Haaland would favour a move to a club managed by his countryman, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In fact, Solskjaer only few months ago managed the striker at Molde FC.
Discussions were held between the club and the Norwegian but the forward bolted for Dortmund instead.
It was suggested in the media that United pulled the plug on any transfer deals with the player because the deal was supposed to include payments to Raiola and the 19-year-old’s father, Alf Inge Haaland.
It was also suggested that there was to a buy-out clause, one with which the management at the club didn’t quite agree with.
Raiola rubbished such reports, stating that the forward only favoured a move to Germany instead.
“The club that he had the most direct contact with him was United.
“They spoke to him the most. Everybody had the chance to talk to him in person. We let that happen especially when he knows Ole.
“Clearly he felt that at this moment it was not the right step in his career. There is nothing against Manchester United or Ole.
“He chose Borussia Dortmund ahead of them and other clubs and I’m very happy because he is going to the club he wanted to go to and that is best for him right now.
“If he wanted to go to Manchester United I would have been obliged to take him to Manchester United, but he did not.
“When you are 19 then maybe you prefer not to go to the Premier League. The offer from Manchester United was good.
“It was not about the economics. It is just the player chose Borussia Dortmund at this stage of his career.”
