Borussia: ’Haaland stays in Dortmund’

„Erling Haaland European tour 2021“ came and gone, but we are not any closer to answering the second most important transfer question: where will Borussia Dortmund striker end up? Lionel Messi is the main transfer story, with young Haaland being at number two, but when your agent in Mino Raiola, it always gets a bit dramatic. The super agent toured with Haaland’s father Alfie and talked to Barcelona, Real, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Raiola claims that no less than 14 clubs are interested in his client.

Haaland's agent: We are not at war with Borussia!

But, Borussia Dortmund still haven’t budged from their original stance: Haaland will stay in the club for another season. And Raiola is still convinced that the Germans will change their minds if a good offer comes along.

“What we know as of today is that Dortmund spoke extremely solemnly to us and said: 'We are not selling him'. That's the situation, definitely. That's what they've said. Now let's see if that desire is still there through to the 1st of September. Today, the official stance of Dortmund is this. But I've got another view, I think that if a good opportunity comes up and everyone would be happy, we'll put it on the table. Haaland is interested in two things: Scoring goals, because he’s a little bit like Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it’s his obsession, in a positive way. And winning titles. No doubt he’ll pick somewhere where he feels those two things go together best for him“ Raiola told the Spanish „As“.

Winning titles in not something Borussia can offer the young Norwegian. They will get a new coach Mark Rose, who will surely stabilize the club and bring Dortmund right behind Bayern, but to actually be a title contender will be a very hard thing to do. Still, Dortmund brass doesn’t think about pleasing Haaland, they know they can’t keep him long term, they only want to keep him until the next season. And they already had business with Raiola, and his interviews are not much of a concern for Borussia’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.

„I’ve known Mino for a long time and get along well with him. You have to accept his idiosyncrasies. But he also knows the idiosyncrasies of Borussia Dortmund. He can give a new interview every day for all I care. It’s no problem for us. Erling Haaland will remain a BVB player next year" Watzke told Sport1 in Germany.

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Former Borussia player and a new sports director come June, Sebastian Kehl was also very calm and positive.

„I understand that Erling Haaland will play for Borussia Dortmund in the new season. Erling totally agrees. I see him every day and I can say that he completely identifies with the club” said Kehl.

And in the end, a very interesting statement from Haaland’s former boss, Salzburg Sporting Director Christoph Freund, who claimed back in November that the Norwegian ‘will land’ in Liverpool, instead of United or even Real Madrid.