Inside Manchester City's Negotiations To Sign Erling Haaland

Despite Erling Haaland’s switch to the Etihad Stadium being confirmed over a month ago, the collective euphoria amongst the Manchester City fanbase about his arrival is not set to diminish anytime soon.

After the Sky Blues’ failure to wrap up a deal for Tottenham’s Harry Kane last summer, the Norwegian’s coup is the long-awaited solution to a successor to legendary frontman Sergio Agüero.

Also, it is understandable why the club’s supporters are enamoured by the 21-year old being a lifelong Manchester City fan, with the player’s father - Alf-Inge Haaland - famously representing the side during the early 2000s.

While the reasons behind the excitement amongst the Etihad Stadium faithful are endless, it is also worth going back to the frustration voiced by many during the long-drawn chase for the youngster’s signature.

Initially, all the noises that emerged had pointed to the former RB Salzburg forward expressing a preference towards playing in Spain's La Liga instead of the Premier League.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland

With Real Madrid hell-bent on pulling off a typical Galacticos summer that would supposedly witness the arrival of both Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, the hopes amongst many about the player taking forward his father’s legacy in Manchester were dwindling.

However, it is well-known that the Premier League champions fended off competition from not just Carlo Ancelotti’s side, but the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain to eventually win the race to sign the most coveted striker in world football.

Touching on the negotiations to secure the signature of the Norwegian sensation, Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano gave a behind-the-scenes insight into the proceedings.

“It was long because everybody knows that (Erling) Haaland could have gone anywhere."

"Many clubs, all the rumours, it was a transpiring situation because he had a release clause - so he could leave Borussia Dortmund, it didn’t need any negotiation. A lot of clubs were wanting to sign him”, he explained in a new episode of the Dr. Football Podcast.

Txiki Begiristain has been speaking about Erling Haaland's move to Manchester City

Ferran Soriano continued, “He made the decision. He made a well-informed decision, based basically on football criteria. Where are we going to play? Where am I going to play? How am I going to play? How am I going to work with this coach?"

"It was a football decision because the economical and financial decision was not the challenge."

"The fee with (Borussia) Dortmund was agreed in the release clause, and a lot of clubs wanted to pay the salary that he gets."

Soriano closed, "I think there is also an important point; his father - Alfie Haaland."

"A former football player, very smart, understands football, understands the Premier League, understands Manchester City because he played at Manchester City. So, he was a good advisor to his son.”

Tebas isn't happy City have been allowed to sign Haaland. Image: Alamy

While a host of elite European sides were involved in the pursuit to sign Erling Haaland, it is clear that the involvement of key decision-makers such as Ferran Soriano in building such an exceptional project at Manchester City over the years is what proved to be the real difference-maker.

The same factor could well end up being irresistible for the likes of Marc Cucurella and Kalvin Phillips, as the speculation around their possible moves to Manchester City this summer refuse to die down.

Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Football, Transfers, Norway

Srinivas Sadhanand

Football journalist, midfield enthusiast, human. In that order.

@notsrini_