Manchester United were not included in Erling Haaland and his father’s list of clubs to join as the striker was preparing to move from Borussia Dortmund.
Based on a documentary released in Norway, ‘Haaland — The Big Decision’, it emerged that the Norwegian and his agent, who is his father Alfie Haaland, employed a points-based system using certain metrics to determine which club to move to.
The documentary, via The Times, reports that the Red Devils were not considered at any point in the selection process, highlighting the full extent of the club’s fall from grace.
When the striker was weighing up his next destination, he took into account whether the club needed a no. 9, the club’s style of play, the club’s history and the capacity of the stadium.
These rankings were updated regularly and in the end United’s cross-town rival Manchester City came in slightly ahead of Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Haaland noted in the documentary that the manager was not a consideration for his blockbuster move, apparently shutting down claims that he considered coming to Old Trafford because of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who coached him at Molde.
“I have never transferred to a club because of the coach, but it is a great advantage with [Pep] Guardiola at City is the best manager in the world,” Haaland said.
On what differentiates City from the rest, he added that “one of the criteria is whether the club needs a 9. City has ten [out of ten] in that sense.”
“Bayern Munich gets a point for that, they don’t need a number 9. They have their best player as a number 9, but if he [Lewandowski] well, then they don’t have anyone else.”
The 22-year-old and his entourage admitted that the talisman does not see a long-term future at The Etihad, highlighting his passion for playing in different leagues throughout his career.
The player’s father said: “I think Erling wants to prove his abilities in all leagues. He then he can stay in all the leagues for a maximum of three or four years”.
“I could be two and a half years in Germany, two and a half years in England and then Spain, Italy, France, right?”
While it remains a blow that United have failed to tie down the striker, it is critical that they look ahead to the summer to sign a striker who can compete with the City man in terms of goals. 
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