Erling Haaland opens up on failed transfer to Champions League club and reveals he 'even got a shirt'

Erling Haaland has revealed he almost joined a Champions League club in 2016.

Haaland spoke to reporters on Tuesday ahead of Manchester City resuming their Champions League campaign on Wednesday.

They face Copenhagen in the last-16 second leg and had things turned out differently, he could have been lining up for them.

Before signing for Molde, Haaland nearly penned a deal at Copenhagen, having undergone a trial at the club in 2016.

However, not everyone at Copenhagen wanted him, with the transfer failing to materialise.

Despite not joining the Danish outfit, the Blues star received a Copenhagen shirt, complete with his name and No.9.

Opening up on his failed transfesr to Copenhagen, the Man City forward recalled: "I was on trial there in 2016. A couple of guys from the club wanted me then, but not everyone.

"It didn’t happen - sad for them! Maybe good for me, because I went to Molde and it was a good choice.

"But I like Copenhagen, it’s a nice club and I’ve a couple of friends who live in Copenhagen. They're standing behind the goal at a lot of games. They enjoy it."

Erling Haaland in action against Copenhagen. Image: Getty

The 23-year-old added: "I was interested in joining them, yeah. It was to join the Under-19s. Of course I was interested, which is why I went there. I remember speaking to Stale Solbakken, who was the coach.

"I even got a shirt, a No.9 Haaland shirt. I still have it at home, actually. It never happened, my destiny was another way and it’s been a decent way so far."

Copenhagen's lost was Molde's gain as they secured Haaland's services, with Red Bull Salzburg eventually signing him.

Borussia Dortmund then came calling, with Man City snapping up the Norwegian in the summer of 2022.

He bagged a staggering 52 goals across all competitions in his debut season at the Etihad and has an impressive 28 goals to his name this campaign.