Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has Erling Haaland could have signed for Manchester United for less than £20million had the club listened to his advice.
The former United manager handed a 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, brought to you by Sky Bet, the Norwegian revealed United decided to pass on the chance to sign his compatriot.
‘I had him [Erling Haaland] in Molde, for two seasons,’ he said.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (middle) managed Erling Haaland (second left) for two seasons at Molde
Solskjaer twice told Manchester United to sign Haaland, but his advice was dismissed
‘The summer before I got here [joined Manchester United], I rang the club and said “You’ve got to sign this boy – he’ll be top class”.
‘That was June/July 2018, and they said no – they had enough reports on players.’
Solskjaer left Molde in December 2018 to become United’s caretaker manager after Mourinho’s sacking and Haaland followed him out of the door 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 while he has a release clause,’ he said.
‘We knew that then, and no one else would’ve paid the money – €20m (£17m), it would’ve been a bargain.
‘Even though with his links with Alfie [Haaland], and Manchester City and Leeds.’
The advice again went unheeded, with United feeling they had enough attacking options on their books,
Solksjaer also urged United to sign Haaland after he replaced Mourinho at Old Trafford
The Norwegian left Molde for RB Salzburg in January of 2019 for just £7m
He then moved to Borussia Dortmund a year later following a stunning season in Austria
Mourinho had signed Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal for £30m in January 2018 and spent £72m on bringing Romelu Lukaku to Old Trafford from Everton six months later.
By the time 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 the biggest clubs in Europe after scoring 29 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions in his only season in Salzburg.
By the time United did follow up Solskjaer’s suggestion, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus were also vying for the Norwegian’s services with the Bundesliga club eventually winning the race.
‘It was the club’s decision to not go for it then,’ Solskjaer said.
‘We never made bids or went in for him, until after he started scoring for Salzburg. By then, Borussia Dortmund were there, Juventus were there, everyone was there.
‘His release clause then was still good – €60m.’
Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 appearances at Dortmund before joining City for £51m in the summer of 2022 and taking the Premier League by storm.
The Norwegian enjoyed a stunning debut season in England, winning the Treble and setting a new record for goals in a 38-match Premier League season with 36.
He rifled in 52 goals in 53 in all competitions last season and, despite missing almost two months because of an ankle injury, he has found the net 27 times in 30 appearances this term.
Haaland’s goal in the Manchester derby was his 80th in 84 appearances for City.
The former United manager believes Haaland could have signed for less than £20m
Haaland eventually signed for Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for £51m
Haaland has scored 80 goals in 84 appearances for City in all competitions
To put the figure into context, over the same period the next most prolific scorer in the Premier League – Mohamed Salah – has scored 49 goals in 79 appearances.
And Solskjaer noted Haaland’s impact extends beyond his astonishing goalscoring record.
‘He’s got more than just being a great lad,’ he said.
‘He’s such a team player, and one-on-one with a keeper, he doesn’t think about his own stats.
‘He passes if someone else is through and it’ll be a 100% goal. He’s a gem.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjær was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
