Interest in the prolific Norwegian frontman is lining up ahead of the next transfer window, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City all said to be keen.
You have to accept Mino Raiolas quirks
Borussia Dortmund will be adopting the same position with Erling Haaland that they once took with Robert Lewandowski, with Hans-Joachim Watzke ruling out a summer sale. Interest in the prolific Norwegian frontman is lining up ahead of the next transfer window, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City all said to be keen. BVB do, however, boast history when it comes to fending off interest in top talent – ignoring advances for the likes of Lewandowski and Jadon Sancho in the past – and will not be entertaining offers for a valued asset. Dortmund CEO Watzke told reporters after seeing Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola that a deal could soon be done: “I have known Mino for a long time and get along well with him. You have to accept his quirks. But he also knows the quirks of Borussia Dortmund.”
Erling will remain a BVB player next year
“He can do a new interview every day; that’s all I care about. It’s not a problem for us. Erling Haaland will remain a BVB player next year.” The 2021-22 Football Champions League has yet to be secured by BVB and are currently outside the top four of the Bundesliga. Missing out on elite European competition will make life difficult for Dortmund and their desire to retain key men in the lineup inherited by Marco Rose. However, Watzke remains convinced that Haaland is fully committed to the cause. The talented 20-year-old has scored 37 goals this season, but Lewandowski was prevented from heading through the exits after establishing a similar reputation, and history is about to repeat itself.
Watzke added on Haaland, who cheered his teammates to victory over Holstein Keel in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals on Saturday: “He’s not letting anything get to him, and he’s going full throttle. The way he was cheering along in the stands shows how much he identifies with his team. Then there was also a conflict of interest with Robert Lewandowski. We stood firm, and Robert accepted that. The following season, he became the top scorer. I think Erling can do the same.” Lewandowski spent four seasons at Bayern Dortmund between 2010 and 2014 before eventually retiring as a free agent to link up with domestic rivals Bayern Munich.