Erling Haaland almost joined Bayern Munich before his record transfer to Manchester City.
The Norwegian striker even jokingly asked for the house of the sports director “free of charge” during transfer negotiations.
The new book by journalist Christian Falk, “Transfer Insider”, published in soap opera in Bild, reveals the underside of Haaland's quest by Bayern Munich in 2021, while he was still the star of Borussia Dortmund. Haaland, accompanied by his agent Mino Raiola and his father Alfie, was courted by the sports director of Bayern, Hasan Salihamidzic, who invited him to his Munich villa. Bayern would have presented “the best arguments” for its sports project, promising to make Haaland the centerpiece of its future.
Haaland met the former Bayern coach Hasan Salihamidzic.
Extract from the book, Falk reveals: ” Haaland goes to Brazzo and finds himself face to face with the sports director of Bayern. 'I love the house. I would like to have it ', said Haaland to Brazzo, before adding:' But for free! ' This sassy remark breaks the ice between the two. Haaland is impressed by the way Bayern management acts as a team. They show him how the club plans for him and how they plan to build the team around him.
The Bavarians put pressure on to recruit the attacker.
“He is the player of the sporting future of FC Bayern,” they told him. Bayern will exceed the financial limits to recruit it, unheard of in the history of the club. These words had an impact on Haaland. Then Raiola wins the phone. He said to Salihamidzic, “You convinced the boy!” Now you have to talk about money. The agent explains the requirements to him. Salihamidzic told Raiola that he must consult the management of Munich. Although Bayern cannot offer wages as high as Premier League clubs, Haaland is assured that father and son will receive a generous part of any future sale of jerseys.
“Raiola was not content to chat with Bayern. With Alfie, Haaland's father, he traveled the other end of Europe to listen to club offers. Raiola calls FC Bayern: “The transfer will not be done. What I can tell you is that you have long been at the top of the list, from a sporting point of view. You had the best arguments. But financially, you were outbid. »»
