Man City boss Guardiola hails FWA Footballer of the Year Haaland
Ex-Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knew exactly the calibre of talent he had on his hands during a previous spell in charge of Molde. He claims to have urged the Red Devils to swoop for Erling Haaland while still in Norway and again when he was United manager. They couldn’t get a deal done and instead went for a veteran duo, whose careers are now on a different trajectory to that of the Norwegian.
A phenomenon in front of goal, Haaland has already hit the net almost 250 times as a professional, despite being only 23 years old. The 6ft 4in marksman made his senior debut at just 15, and a year later he was snapped up by Solskjaer’s Molde.
“I got in contact with United because we had this talented striker who they should have had,” he said. “But they didn’t listen, unfortunately.” That was in 2018 and United tried again to sign him in January 2020 but refused to put a release clause in his contract which ultimately allowed Borussia Dortmund to sign him for around £17million.
Haaland left Dortmund to join Manchester City last summer and a sensational 52-goal haul in all competitions helped United’s rivals to a staggering silverware treble last season. United meanwhile have been left to rue the duo they brought to Old Trafford instead, who are now playing their football in far-flung destinations. So where are they now?
Haaland sensational 52-goal haul in all competitions rivals to a staggering silverware treble last season. Old Trafford are now playing their football in far-flung destinations.
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Odion Ighalo
A surprise loan signing in January 2020 after Haaland joined Dortmund, Ighalo had already proven that he was able to score goals at Premier League level. The Nigerian did so with Watford in 2015/16, following up a prolific Championship campaign by notching 15 in the top flight.
Ighalo had left the Hornets and completed three seasons in the Chinese Super League by the time United came calling. While it wasn’t a fairytale marriage, five goals in 23 appearances is far from disastrous, with the striker already in his thirties at the time.
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Since leaving Old Trafford, Ighalo has been scoring for fun in the Saudi Pro League. After a stint at Al-Hilal, the 34-year-old joined Al-Wehda during the summer, who sit mid-table after making a mediocre start to the season.
Edinson Cavani
Contrary to Ighalo, Cavani was already a modern legend of the game by the time United signed him in October 2020. Goal-laden spells at Palermo, Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain put his name on the map, and he trails only Luis Suarez in Uruguay’s all-time scoring charts.
The free agent enjoyed a successful stint with the Red Devils, scoring 19 goals in 59 games. The vast majority of those came in his first campaign, where he immediately won fans over with his predatory instincts inside the box. His second year was heavily disrupted by injuries and he left on a free transfer.
Cavani followed up his two seasons at United with a brief stint at Valencia, and he is now back in South America with Argentine giants Boca Juniors, where he counts fellow ex-Red Devil Sergio Romero as his team-mate.
Due to turn 37 before the end of the season, Cavani is deep into the twilight of his career, but he has still managed to find three goals in 13 games so far this season.
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