Agent Mino Raiola reveals Manchester United “spoke the most” with Erling Haaland, but the Juventus transfer target chose Borussia Dortmund.
The deal was completed over the weekend for a reported €20m release clause, plus another €25m in commission to Raiola and the player’s father.
Agent Mino Raiola reveals Manchester United “spoke the most” with Erling Haaland, but the Juventus transfer target chose Borussia Dortmund.
The deal was completed over the weekend for a reported €20m release clause, plus another €25m in commission to Raiola and the player’s father.
Only hours before the move was announced, media in England were confident Haaland was going to Manchester United, while the Italian papers believed Juventus had the upper hand.
Raiola spoke to The Telegraph about the situation and suggested the Old Trafford outfit was more likely than Juve to win this race.
“United spoke to him the most. Everybody had the chance to talk to him in person. We let that happen especially when he knows Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer),” the agent told The Telegraph.
“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.
“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.”
Raiola suggested Manchester United had spread incorrect reports that they had pulled out due to the excessive cost of the operation.
“I do not know if Manchester United are briefing this but if they are then they are covering their own loss and that I find strange and disappointing,” he continued.
“There was no fall-out between me and [United executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward. It was just a normal negotiation and the player has chosen a different path.
“If they want to blame someone then, fine, blame me but the player is happy. He has made his choice and we went through a normal process.”