Erling Haaland switched from Borussia Dortmund to English champions Manchester City last summer for around 60 million euros. As is well known, FC Bayern was also involved in the Norwegian goal machine and would have been only too happy to transfer Haaland to Munich as the successor to Robert Lewandowski. Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic spoke on Tuesday evening about the reasons why the transfer coup did not work.
In the spring of 2022, FC Bayern got serious about Erling Haaland and his team of advisors. According to “kicker” information, the German record champions were willing to pay Haaland the club’s record salary of 35 million euros per year.
But even this horrendous sum was apparently not enough to lure the Norwegian to Munich. Instead, the centre-forward signed with Man City until 2027, where he has already scored an outstanding 30 goals this season in the Premier League.
“Of course, you always try when there’s a player like that on the market,” said Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic on “Prime Video” once again that there had been contact with Haaland last year. The Bayern maker explained why the deal ultimately failed: “We didn’t have the wherewithal.”
According to Salihamidzic, the Norwegian striker had at least seriously considered continuing his career after two and a half years at BVB in the Bundesliga at FC Bayern: “At least we talked and he gave us the feeling. He’s a good boy, I think It’s good that he thought about it.”
Summer transfers at FC Bayern?
Before the next transfer summer, there is renewed speculation about FC Bayern as to whether the German industry leader will afford an extremely expensive center forward. Salihamidzic also commented on this in the run-up to Bayern’s Champions League game at Manchester City on Tuesday evening.
“First of all, the question is what we want. Then we’ll talk about what’s possible. You can’t just go to the transfer market so haphazardly,” said the 45-year-old.
Until then, the trust belongs to the offensive forces who are currently in the squad at FC Bayern: “We have very, very good opportunities. They just have to be in top form.”