It was no secret that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted Erling Haaland at Manchester United when he was manager at Old Trafford.
The Norwegian coach was eager to bring his fellow countryman, who was bursting onto the European scene with RB Salzburg at the time, to United.
At the time, he had Anthony Martial as his primary number nine, but Solskjaer recognised the talent of Haaland from the time they worked together at Molde.
Advert
His attempts to sign the forward were, in the end, unsuccessful. He chose a move to Borussia Dortmund, where he starred as one of the best players in the Bundesliga during his time in Germany.
This summer, Haaland did eventually make his move to Manchester, but it was the blue side which he signed on the dotted line for.
Pep Guardiola's men are currently at the pinnacle of the game, so it was one of the most attractive offers for the player.
His father, Alfie, also played for The Citizens in his day, perhaps mostly remembered by United fans as the man who angered Roy Keane a little too much one time.
Solskjaer was close with Haaland, even when managing at the Theatre of Dreams. He wasn't shy to admit that he spoke with the player, and hint towards a potential transfer.
Advert
"When you have had kids and players through as a coach, you follow them and I keep in touch with Erling," Solskjaer told media last February.
"It's great to see him become the player he has become and [how] he works to improve all the time. He's a Dortmund player – we just wish him well there and let's see what life will bring later on.
"You know I can't speak about Erling because he's at Borussia Dortmund, and it's disrespectful to talk too much about it, apart from that I know him and I speak to him."
The close relationship that the pair seemed to have meant that it was inevitable that Solskjaer wished him luck wherever his journey took him next.
Advert
And Solskjaer stuck to that even when the player signed for United's arch-rivals, but he did ensure to let him know what he thought of the decision.
"When I signed with City he congratulated me and wrote to me 'Good luck on going to the wrong side of Manchester'." Haaland admitted when talking with the Manchester Evening News.
"We talk sometimes. As you know, he had a huge impact on my career when I was at Molde. He's a good guy."
Advert
The admiration between the pair is quite obvious. Solskjaer was one of the best Norwegian strikers ever. Haaland's on his way to overtaking the United legend.
In an alternative universe, the two Scandinavians would be together at Old Trafford, but things don't always work out how you'd expect.
United may need to purchase a striker this summer, though, with Cristiano Ronaldo wanting an exit after returning to the club just last year.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Manchester City, Erling Haaland, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Transfers, Football, Borussia Dortmund, Premier League