Koeman sensationally REJECTED Haaland signing

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
• 3 min read

Ronald Koeman rejected the chance to sign Erling Haaland when he was manager of Everton, believing it would not be a good move.

This is according to Diario AS, who report that Koeman turned down a 16-year-old Haaland back in 2016.

Haaland had been scouted by Everton chief scout Steve Walsh, who had recently moved to the club after doing a miraculous job at Leicester.

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Walsh was heavily responsible for Leicester’s shock 2016 Premier League title success as it was his scouting that saw the club sign N’Golo Kante from Caen for €6 million, Riyad Mahrez from Le Havre for €600,000 and a rookie Jamie Vardy from Fleetwood Town.

And Walsh believed he had discovered another future superstar when he recommended that Everton sign the teenage Haaland.

Koeman rejected Haaland

However, Koeman turned down the chance to sign the striker, believing it would not be a good move.

A year later, Haaland moved on to Molde before becoming one of the world’s best strikers at RB Salzburg and then Borussia Dortmund.

At the age of just 20, Haaland has already scored 126 club goals in his career, as well as seven in 11 for the Norway national team.

Barcelona talks with Haaland

Players and staff, thank you for an eventful year. A season with the first trophy of a new era 🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça #CopadelRey
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Jugadores y staff, gracias por un año lleno de acontecimientos. Una temporada con el primer trofeo de una nueva era 🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça #CopadelRey pic.twitter.com/aOVsMOj3ic

— Ronald Koeman (@RonaldKoeman) May 23, 2021

He is at the centre of a bidding war this summer, with virtually every top club in Europe hoping to sign him if Dortmund agree to do business.

One of those clubs is Koeman’s current club Barcelona, who held talks several weeks ago with Haaland’s father Alf-Inge and his agent Mino Raiola.

However, a move to Barca seems unlikely due to the club’s financial difficulties, while the previous rejection of Haaland by Blaugrana manager Koeman is unlikely to do them any favours either.

Koeman only lasted just over one season at Everton before being sacked in October 2017.