Why the move to Borussia Dortmund is perfect for Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland’s decision to sign with Borussia Dortmund instead of Manchester United is perfect for the trajectory of the game’s hottest prospect.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in such close contact with fellow Norwegian Erling Haaland that he was able to demonstrate intimate knowledge of the young player’s Christmas plans.

“He’s not coming to Manchester,” Solskjaer replied when asked whether Haaland was on a flight to England, as had been reported by a Norwegian newspaper. “I know the boy and his friends and he’s on a Christmas holiday. You can’t fly anywhere [from Stavanger], you need to via via…”

The Manchester United boss surely hoped that the North-West of England would be Haaland’s final destination, though.

Haaland became Europe’s most sought after teenager over the first half of this season, firing eight goals in six Champions League appearances for Red Bull Salzburg. Instead, the Norwegian spurned Solskjaer’s interest to sign for Borussia Dortmund, with the transfer confirmed late last week.

Haaland certainly had no shortage of suitors with Juventus and RB Leipzig also believed to have trailed the 19-year-old. Forty scouts were reported to have turned up to Salzburg’s final Champions League group game against Liverpool. Most were surely there to watch Haaland.

In signing for Dortmund, though, he has made the best possible decision for his career. The Westfalenstadion is the best place he could be at this stage of his development. He was right to reject Manchester United, and everyone else’s, interest.

After all, Borussia Dortmund is a club with a track record in harnessing world class center forwards. Not since the emergence of Robert Lewandowski has a European striker appeared so destined for a decade at the top of the sport and now Haaland will follow in the footsteps of the Polish goalscorer by making the switch to the Bundesliga.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is another top tier center forward who was given a platform at the Westfalenstadion, with the Gabonese striker scoring 98 goals in just 144 games before making a £56 million move to Arsenal. Haaland can now look forward to being made Dortmund’s main man in a similar way, only strengthening comparisons that have been made between the two.

Game time was reportedly Haaland’s primary concern when plotting his next move from Red Bull Salzburg. With this in mind, Dortmund is once again a good place for him to be. Lucien Favre is lacking a true goalscorer to lead the line and in Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard, Marco Reus and Jadon Sancho, among others, Haaland will be serviced by several natural creators. The structure is in place for him to succeed.

At Manchester United, Haaland might not have been guaranteed of his place in the starting lineup. While there are countless holes in the squad of the Old Trafford outfit, they have strength in depth in the attack, with Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford already fighting to play as Solskjaer’s favored center forward. On top of this, United’s recent record in harnessing young players is patchy to say the least.

What’s more, the Bundesliga has become something of a proving ground for young talent, particularly attacking talent, in recent years. Haaland’s move to Germany means the country now boasts three of European football’s top five goalscorers this season, with Lewandowski and Timo Werner enjoying exceptional campaigns in front of goal so far.

If all goes to plan, it’s unlikely that Haaland will be at Dortmund for long. United reportedly halted their pursuit of the Norwegian after his agent Mino Raiola demanded that a buyout clause of around €50 million be written into his client’s contract. This suggests Dortmund bowed to such demands and so it might not be long until another transfer market chase ensues.

Old Trafford might still be in Haaland’s future, but he was right to adjudge that it’s not quite the right place for him at this point.