Manchester City star Erling Haaland had a seven-team shortlist before opting to move to the Etihad Stadium, but rivals Manchester United were never one of the options.
The Norway international has been in stunning form since completing his big-money summer move, and has the chance to score a third hat-trick of the season when he takes on United this weekend. United had been hopeful of landing the 22-year-old, especially when Ralf Rangnick was in charge after working with Haaland at Red Bull Salzburg, but no move materialised.
Now, according to the player's own father, it has emerged that Haaland never considered an Old Trafford switch when the time came to leave Signal Iduna Park. Alf-Inge Haaland has shared details of the seven-team shortlist for the star which included three Premier League sides but not United.
"Who is the best team as of today?" Alf-Inge asked on the documentary 'The Big Decision'. "Another criterion is who needs a number 9?
"So, we have Liverpool right up there, but they don't need... it's a halfway number nine they have. City is 10 [out of 10] in that. They need it."
"Bayern Munich has a 1," he added, speaking before Robert Lewandowdski's move to Barcelona. "They don't need a number 9, they have their best player as number 9, but if he goes, then they have no one else."
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Alf-Inge then laid out the list of contenders, naming seven clubs. "On our list, [Bayern] are number two right now.
"I think City is the best team. Munich is number two," he continued. "We have Real Madrid as number three and we have Paris Saint-Germain as number four.
"We also have some English teams who are quite good, both Liverpool and Chelsea. Also there is Barcelona. They are sort of in the same row. Liverpool are right up there too.
Haaland is the Premier League's leading scorer after finding the net 11 times in just seven games. He also has three goals to his name in the Champions League as Pep Guardiola's side have made a perfect start in the competition.
Back in August, he spoke of his relationship with United supporters while hinting a move to the club was never hugely realistic. Alf-Inge Haaland spent part of his career at City, notably sustaining a serious injury after a clash with Roy Keane in a Manchester derby, and Erling was photographed in a City shirt as a child.
"Look, it’s all about banter and I enjoy that," the striker told FourFourTwo. "I’ve already met some United supporters here in the city, and we’re always joking with each other. It’s about not taking everything too seriously.
"There are a lot of United fans in my home town in Norway, so I’ve always had to have a go at them. I’m used to this and I love it. Don’t take things too seriously. I want to be able to talk a bit like the fans, otherwise it gets a bit boring, doesn’t it?”
