FC Bayern Munich narrowly missed out on signing Erling Haaland, as a secret visit to the striker was exposed.
In the world of football, the name Erling Haaland is synonymous with raw talent and unparalleled potential. In 2021, the world-class striker was at the centre of a potential transfer saga involving FC Bayern Munich.
The story unfolded after Bayern's triumphant 4-2 victory over Haaland's then-team, Borussia Dortmund. The key figure in this pursuit was Hasan Salihamidzic, the former Bayern boss, who played a pivotal role in the negotiations.
A meeting between Salihamidzic and Haaland's agent, Mino Raiola, took place in the Munich district of Harlaching, at Salihamidzic's villa. The exact details of the negotiations handover remain undisclosed, but reports suggest that Bayern was prepared to pay a record sum for Haaland's services.
The meeting was described as akin to a scene from an agent film, with Haaland entering through a garage and a connecting door to avoid the prying eyes of paparazzi or insiders.
Borussia Dortmund was aware that Haaland would not fulfill his contract until June 30, 2024. Despite Bayern's apparent advantage, the transfer ultimately did not materialise. Raiola revealed that the transfer was rejected due to Bayern's financial disadvantage, with Manchester City reportedly offering more.
In the aftermath of the transfer madness, Uli Hoeness, Bayern's patron, heavily criticised the ensuing chaos.
Details of this intriguing meeting are revealed in Christian Falk's book "Transfer-Insider", a Bayern expert and reporter for Bild. Haaland reportedly made a humorous comment about the villa during the meeting, joking that he would like to have it for free.
At the time, Raiola stated that Bayern was ahead in the pursuit of Haaland. However, the subsequent transfer of Haaland to Manchester City caused a significant stir, leaving many wondering what could have been if the deal with Bayern had gone through.
Read also:
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
