Ole Gunnar Solskaer had a funny feeling that Erling Haaland wouldn't end up at Old Trafford given his allegiance to Manchester City
Pep Guardiola's side are closing on the Norwegian's signature after agreeing a verbal deal with Borussia Dortmund for the striker. Haaland will leave a host of clubs disappointed after deciding his next destination will be the Etihad. He will follow in his father's footsteps, Alf-Inge, who played for City during his playing career.
Haaland grew up with an affinity for City, as a result, and consequently wasn't so keen on their arch-rivals Manchester United. That didn't stop United from trying to persuade him to come to Old Trafford, however, as they registered their interest in the talisman last summer.
The Red Devils' signing of Jadon Sancho, who formed a brilliant partnership with Haaland on and off the field at Signal Iduna Park, might have given the Dortmund forward food for thought when debating whether to join United, but ultimately it wasn't enough to stop him from choosing City.
Haaland reportedly struck personal terms with his new employers in April as he is set to put pen to paper on a five-year contract that will see him earn £400,000 per week at City.
And former Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who worked with Haaland at Molde, was wary that he didn't have positive feelings towards United given his affiliation with City.
“He is probably not the world’s biggest Manchester United fan,” Solskajer told Norwegian newspaper VG in July 2018. “But if they come to the door, there are not many who say no to that.”
It turns out Haaland did turn his nose up at United in favour of City and now Guardiola has one of the best strikers in world football at his disposal.
Jamie Carragher praised the signing of Haaland as the pundit reckons City have the heir to Messi and Ronaldo's throne on their hands. He said: "He's a brilliant signing, not just for Man City but for the Premier League. He and Mbappe feel like the next two superstars who have already eclipsed Ronaldo and Messi and you're just delighted he's in the Premier League.
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"Normally those types of players in the past have gone to Real Madrid or Barcelona, but I feel like now the Premier League is the strongest league. Just look at how we're doing in the Champions League. I think it's a great signing for City and for the Premier League also.
"He'll score goals, that's what he's been bought to do, of course, he'll score goals. But it doesn't guarantee City will win everything. You'll have to integrate him into the team, which means City will lose another creative player. Perhaps that helps them keep the ball more, have more control in games. There are loads of questions I'm already thinking of myself. They had a world-class striker three or four years ago in Sergio Aguero, and they've got another one now."
