Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has Erling Haaland could have signed for Manchester United for less than £20m if the club had listened to his advice.
The former United manager gave 16-year-old Haaland his professional debut while in charge of Norwegian club Molde in 2017.
The Manchester City star scored 20 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions in two seasons under Solskjaer, who informed United of Haaland’s precocious talent in the summer of 2018.
But speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, presented by Sky Bet, the Norwegian revealed that United decided to pass up the opportunity to sign his compatriot.
“I had him (Erling Haaland) in Molde for two seasons,” he said.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (centre) managed Erling Haaland (second from left) for two seasons at Molde
Solskjaer twice told Manchester United to sign Haaland, but his advice was rejected
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“The summer before I came here (joined Manchester United), I called the club and said, ‘You’ve got to sign this guy; he will be first class.”
“That was in June/July 2018 and they said no, they had enough reports on the players.”
Solskjaer left Molde in December 2018 to become United’s interim manager after Mourinho was sacked and Haaland followed a month later, moving to RB Salzburg for £7m.
Aware of Haaland’s potential, Solskjaer again pleaded with United to sign Haaland, whose contract with the Austrian club included a £17m release clause.
‘We (Molde) had sold Haaland to RB Salzburg. “I tell the club (United) straight away to buy him as long as he has a release clause,” he said.
“We knew it then, and no one else would have paid the money – €20m (£17m) would have been a bargain.
“Although with his links with Alfie (Haaland), Manchester City and Leeds.”
The advice again was not heeded, and United felt they had enough attacking options on their books.
The Norwegian left Molde for RB Salzburg in January 2019 for just £7m
He then moved to Borussia Dortmund a year later after an impressive season in Austria.
Mourinho had signed Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal for £30m in January 2018 and spent £72m to bring Romelu Lukaku to Old Trafford from Everton six months later.
When Solskjaer replaced the Portuguese, both were still at the club along with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
Haaland, meanwhile, soon attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs after scoring 29 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions in his only season in Salzburg.
When United followed Solskjaer’s suggestion, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus were also competing for the Norwegian’s services and the Bundesliga club ultimately won the race.
“It was the club’s decision not to try it then,” Solskjaer said.
“We never bid or bet on him until he started scoring for Salzburg. By then Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, everyone was already there.
“His termination clause was still good: 60 million euros.”
Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 appearances for Dortmund before joining City for £51m in the summer of 2022 and taking the Premier League by storm.
The Norwegian enjoyed an impressive debut season in England, winning the treble and setting a new record for goals in a 38-match Premier League season with 36.
He scored 52 goals in 53 in all competitions last season and, despite missing almost two months with an ankle injury, has found the net 27 times in 30 appearances this season.
Haaland’s goal in the Manchester derby was his 80th in 84 games for City.
Haaland eventually signed for Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for £51m.
Haaland has scored 80 goals in 84 games for City in all competitions.
To put the figure in context, during the same period the Premier League’s next most prolific goalscorer, Mohamed Salah, scored 49 goals in 79 appearances.
And Solskjaer noted that Haaland’s impact extends beyond his astonishing goalscoring record.
“There’s more to it than just being a great kid,” he said.
“He is a great team player, and in one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he doesn’t think about his own statistics.
“It happens if someone else passes and it will be a 100% goal.” It is a jewel.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke on the Stick to Football podcast, presented by sky bet.
