Manchester City sold a 'football project' to Erling Haaland, while leaning on his family's affinity to the club, as they tried to persuade the striker to sign in the summer.
City won the race to sign Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for £51m, and he has scored an impressive 27 goals in 24 appearances to date. Haaland's family - including father Alfie who previously played for City - have made it clear they have a plan for the striker's career that will get the most out of his talents.
In a new documentary, City's chief football operations officer Omar Berrada has explained how the Blues beat off competition from 'all the top teams' to persuade the Haaland family that the Etihad was the best move for him at this stage of his career.
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Speaking on the new Sky documentary, 'Deadline Day: Football’s Transfer Window', Berrada discusses City's transfer tactics for talks with Haaland, explaining how the Blues sold the club to his entourage.
"A player like Haaland really could have chosen any top team in Europe. Almost all the top teams were interested in his signature,” he says, as relayed by the Mirror.
"For us, it was about understanding what motivates him. When you boil it down to its essence, he wanted a football project. We spent a lot of time explaining the football project.
"He's a strong character and the decision was taken by him but clearly the fact that his father had played for Man City, there was an affinity.”
Berrada later discusses his general thoughts on the transfer window, describing the market as another competition for City to compete in as well as their on-pitch pursuits.
He said: "The transfer market has almost become a competition in itself. What you don't realise is the sheer amount of pressure you deal with. Yes, there's an element of the transaction - the salary, the fee, the commission.
"But you're dealing with people, people who have dreams, fears and who may have influences within their own entourage. You have to really try and understand who you are speaking to. When you understand that you have a better sense of how to negotiate.”
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