Erling Haaland has revealed that Copenhagen rejected the chance to sign him in 2016.
Considering Haaland has looked like a generational talent from day one, the decision from the Danish side not to do everything in their power to ensure he put pen to paper is baffling, to say the least.
Eventually, the 23-year-old decided to sign for Molde and since then, he has dominated proceedings at RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, as he now prepares to face Copenhagen once again in the Champions League.
Erling Haaland reveals Copenhagen rejected the chance to sign him in 2016
Perhaps the club from the Danish capital failed to gauge just how much potential the Norwegian megastar had.
Haaland has gone on to do things on a pitch not many have done since then, with Michael Bridges crowning him as the greatest striker to have ever played in the Premier League in November last year.
It’s fair to state that most, if not every club in world football would give an arm and a leg to have a player like the treble-winner at their disposal; even teams with elite strikers on their books.
But Copenhagen were in two minds about signing Erling Haaland before turning down the opportunity, as he revealed ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming clash against them on Wednesday.
“Yeah, I was on a trial or whatever you want to call it in 2016. I think a couple of guys from the club then wanted me but not everyone, so didn’t happen. Sad for them but maybe good for me because I went to Molde and it was a good choice”, he said [via HaytersTV].
Erling Haaland did go on to admit that he still admires Copenhagen as a club.
“I like the club, to be fair. It’s a nice club, I’ve got a couple of friends that live in Copenhagen as well and they are standing on the, I don’t know what you call it behind the goal in a lot of games so they enjoy it and I like the club.”
“I was interested, yeah, obviously, [it] was to join the Under-19s then, so yeah, I was interested. Of course, that’s why I went there. I remember even speaking with Stale [Solbakken], the coach then. I even got the shirt actually, number nine, Haaland, at home but I was interested but it never happened.”
“But my destiny was another way but it was a decent way, so far.”
Erling Haaland should have no regrets
It goes without saying but Erling Haaland should have no regrets about the fact that he could not join Copenhagen, even though he wished to.
Haaland’s development since then has been handled to a tee and the results are there for the world to see.
Ultimately, some things simply do not work out in football and during certain instances such as this one, it tends to be for the better.
