- According to the Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, Manchester United should have thrived harder to sign the Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland during the January transfer rating him as “the real deal”.
The Red Devils were so close to striking the deal but a misunderstanding emerged between the club’s board and Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola. The club is reported to have failed to meet the striker’s end of the bargain.
Scholes thinks his old club made a wrong decision by failing to throw more money at the Norwegian striker as he shared his opinion.
“Do you know what, when all the talk was about, I hadn’t seen a lot of him. But then once the German football came back and I watched him properly, I thought: Why did Manchester United not just pay whatever anybody wanted for him?” Scholes said.
“He looks that good, he’s still young, and he’s an out-and-out goal-scorer. He’s quick as well, he’s got real pace. He’s a big lad, he’s a presence, and he scores goals – and that’s priceless.
“Looking back – and do you know what, he still might be available, who knows, in time – but United are going to have to pay big, big money for him. But so what? He looks the real deal.” He added.
The19-year-old netted 13 times and has made two assists in 14 appearances in the Bundesliga since his move to Dortmund from RB Salzburg in January.
Haaland is now a renowned figure in European football after enjoying a spectacular season for Salzburg and Dortmund, scoring 44 times in 40 games for both clubs.
The Norway international deal at Westfalenstadion is still active until 2024. So far he has attained 16 goals in his first 18 outings for Dortmund, who finished second in the 2019-20 Bundesliga standings behind Bayern Munich.
