Haaland snubs lucrative Man Utd offer due to ‘sporting’ concerns
Erling Haaland is not interested in joining Manchester United this summer due to his concerns over the club’s trajectory, according to reports.
Haaland, 21, is set to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer. He has scored 80 goals in 83 appearances for the Bundesliga giants and will not be short of suitors when his €75m release clause becomes active at the end of the season.
Manchester City are thought to be the current favourites but they are not the only European heavyweight targeting the Norwegian, with United, Barcelona and Real Madrid also interested, among others.
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Earlier this season, United assured Haaland and his representatives that they would be able to match any financial package offered by another club, but according to ESPN, money will not be a major factor in the striker’s decision, as Haaland is more interested in the “sporting project” that a club can offer.
As a result, he has rejected the option of joining United due to his fears over the on-pitch future of the club. United are 7th in the Premier League table and are set for a period of transition when interim boss Ralf Rangnick hands over the reins to a permanent manager at the end of the season.
According to Gary Neville, United need a manager of Diego Simeone’s calibre to turn the club around.
“Diego Simeone should be a candidate, but it’s never been achievable to get him out of Atletico Madrid,” he told Sky Sports.
“He is wedded in there, he is tied. But it would be brilliant to see him in the Premier League, you saw on Tuesday night, I’ve seen it many times – I got beaten 2-0 in Valencia by his brilliant Atletico Madrid team that Griezmann was in before he went to Barcelona.”
He continued: “Fantastic coach, brutal in how he approaches the game, I think in every single way. He’s tough, and Manchester United need a tough manager.
“Manchester United need a manager who can compete with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola – they’re the best, so they need someone who can stand on that touchline and feel equal to them and I think Simeone could.”
