The “super-agent” Mino Raiola has ruled out the possibility of Erling Haaland joining Manchester United and claims that Manchester City are a more likely destination for the prolific Borussia Dortmund striker.
While it emerged that City are willing to sell Ferran Torres in January — Barcelona have already opened talks with the Premier League champions over a potential deal — Raiola confirmed that the Premier League champions were one of four clubs that could add Haaland to their forward line next season.
Raiola said there was a “big chance” that Haaland, 21, would leave next summer, but United would not be considered as an option, Raiola said, owing to their lack of recent success. “Bayern [Munich], Real [Madrid], Barcelona, City — these are the big clubs he can go to,” Raiola told Sport1, the Italian broadcaster. “City have won the championship five times in the last few years, much more than United.
“We all knew when we moved to Dortmund that this step would come. He is someone who wants to develop, who is looking for new challenges.”
Raiola refused to confirm or deny reports that the Norway forward had a €75 million (about £64 million) release clause in his contract, which expires in 2024.
Advertisement
It is an open secret that City are interested in Haaland, who supported the club as a youngster and whose father, Alfie Haaland, played for the club from 2000 to 2003.
The Times can reveal, meanwhile, that Barcelona made their first move for Torres, the 21-year-old winger, two weeks ago, when the sports director Mateu Alemany and the chief executive Ferran Reverter visited City’s training ground to make their interest in the player official.
It is understood that Barcelona, owing to their poor financial situation, told City that they would be able to spend about €40 million on Torres. City’s valuation of the winger is much higher.
City bought Torres from Valencia in 2020 for an initial fee of £20.8 million. That fee has since risen to £25 million after add-ons were triggered.
Torres has not played since breaking a metatarsal while playing for Spain in October. He returned to light training this week and is expected to be back in action next month.
