Raiola omits Man Utd from list of potential destinations for Haaland next summer
The agent of Erling Haaland, Mino Raiola, has suggested that there’s a “big chance” the striker will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer but has distanced his client from a potential move to Manchester United.
Haaland has a reported release clause in his contract that will allow him to leave Dortmund at the end of the season for a fee believed to be around €75 million.
Since making the move to Dortmund, Haaland has shown a remarkable ability to score goals at the very highest level, with 74 goals in 72 games for the German club.
As such, the striker is being closely watched by some of Europe’s biggest clubs and is expected to join one of them next season.
And while Raiola didn’t entirely rule out the prospect of Haaland staying at Dortmund, he did list a number of clubs that could sign the player - but notably left out the Old Trafford giants.
'Dortmund have balls!"
“A transfer last summer would definitely have been better for them economically,” said Raiola in an interview with Sport1.
“But they looked after the good of the club, the fans, the team and the success. I have a lot of respect for this decision. Dortmund have balls!”
When asked about which clubs could bid for Haaland in the upcoming summer transfer window, the super agent said: “He can and will take the next step. Bayern, Real, Barcelona, City - these are the big clubs he can go to.
“City have won the championship five times in the last few years, much more than United. We all knew when we moved to Dortmund that this step would come.”
While Haaland’s departure from Dortmund has been predicted for some time, recent reports have suggested that the striker could stay put if the summer’s market doesn’t suit a move.
And alongside being notably respectful about Haaland’s current employers, Raiola also suggested the player could stay put next season.
“Maybe this summer, maybe the summer after. But there is a big chance that Erling will leave this summer. We will see,” said the agent.
“He is someone who wants to develop, who is looking for new challenges. And of course it's also a question of the alternative. You only change if you have a better alternative.
“I don't know. We have to see. It's going to be a very strange summer. We play football for a month and a half, then everything stops and we go to Qatar for the World Cup. That's strange.”