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Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Agreed on Erling Haaland Transfer
It’s become a trend for Manchester United‘s decision-makers to snub advice from the club’s managers, and that was the case for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. The managerial duo both advised Red Devils chiefs to target a young upcoming talent, but their proposals fell on deaf ears.
Ruben Amorim’s dismissal earlier this month followed his indirect criticism of United’s board for interfering too much in his job. The Portuguese coach had pushed for the club to sign Antoine Semenyo, but the Ghanaian attacker ended up at rivals Manchester City.
Semenyo isn’t the first player whom the higher-ups at Old Trafford have missed out on after ignoring pleas from those in the dugout. Solskjaer and Rangnick both pushed for one of Europe’s rising stars, now one of the favourites for the Ballon d’Or, but to no avail.
Solskjaer and Rangnick’s Man United Recommendation
Solskjaer was appointed as United’s caretaker manager back in 2018, and the Norwegian returned to the club after a legendary playing career at Old Trafford. But he’d already been in contact with the Red Devils about a young striker emerging in his homeland.
Erling Haaland started his playing career under Solskjaer at Molde and put up outstanding goalscoring numbers in his teenage years. He bagged 20 goals and seven assists in 50 games across competitions during their time together in Norway.
The prolific frontman headed to Austrian side RB Salzburg early in 2019, but Solskjaer revealed that he had almost played club scout for United by alerting them to the player. He claimed that the club opted not to pursue the would-be City superstar, a decision that has had serious consequences.
Haaland eventually ended up in the Premier League when he joined City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022 for £50 million. He has been a revelation at the Etihad, breaking records season after season and firing Pep Guardiola’s side to major trophy success, including the continental treble in 2022/23.
Such phenomenal exploits might have occurred in the red of Manchester if the hierarchy had taken not only Solskjaer but Rangnick‘s advice on board. The Austrian coach replaced the Norwegian at the helm on a caretaker basis in December 2021 and also worked in an advisory role.
The Austria boss didn’t mince his words during his brief spell in England, making clear that “open heart surgery” was required for United to return to its glory days. He reportedly put forward a list of nine players the club should have swooped for to help with the rebuild.
Haaland was one of the players Rangnick urged the club to sign, but once again, the owners didn’t act. Instead, the Premier League giants tried and failed to come close to finding a number nine of the City star’s ilk.
Wout Weghorst, Rasmus Hojlund, and Joshua Zirkzee have all arrived since Rangnick’s recommendation, and all three have been pitiful in front of goal in comparison with Haaland. It’s a bitter pill for United to swallow when watching the Norway international wreak havoc for their neighbours.
‘Incredible’ Haaland a Ballon d’Or Frontrunner
Haaland is having a season to remember despite City’s struggles to keep pace with Arsenal in the Premier League title race. He has found the back of the net 20 times in 22 league games, 26 times in 31 games across competitions.
The 25-year-old is staking his claim for a Ballon d’Or podium finish come October 26th, and he’s currently second favourite in GIVEMESPORT’s power rankings to win the award for the first time in his career. If he does, that would pile even more misery on United and their decision to ignore Solskjaer and Rangnick.
Haaland’s former City teammate Ilkay Gundogan predicted he’d become a Ballon d’Or winner back in 2022. He gave a glowing verdict while speaking to the club’s website:
“I’m sure that all this together will just improve him more and more… not just this season but in the next few years. And it will make him an incredible player. He is already one but he will just get better and I think this will increase his chances to win the Ballon d’Or.”
Haaland’s best finish in the Ballon d’Or race came a year after Gundogan’s comments when he finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in 2023. Many believe he should have been awarded the prestigious prize, but Messi’s 2022 World Cup heroics saw him claim a record-extending eighth.
