Raiola delivers blow to Manchester United's Haaland hopes

Red Devils not among his client's possible destinations

Posted Saturday, December 11, 2021 by Marca.com

Erling Haaland is regarded as one of the most sought-after players of the last few years, with several European teams having placed the Borussia Dortmund striker on their radar. Manchester United are reportedly one of the potential suitors for Haaland's signature, but Mino Raiola does not consider the Red Devils as an attractive option due to their lack of success in the last few years.

The Red Devils haven't won the Premier League since 2012/13, when Sir Alex Ferguson decided to retire, and they have failed to go all the way in the Champions League since 2007/08 - in Cristiano Ronaldo's first spell at the club.

Manchester City's emergence

Meanwhile, Manchester City have dominated the domestic league following the takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2008.

Despite having failed to win a Champions League trophy in the last decade, the Sky Blues have celebrated five Premier League titles in recent seasons and Raiola is well aware of that fact.

"[Haaland] can and will take the next step," Raiola told Sport1.

"Bayern, Real, Barcelona, City - these are the big clubs he can go to.

"City have won the championship five times in recent years, significantly more than [Manchester] United.

"When we moved to Borussia Dortmund, we all knew this step would come.

"Maybe this summer, maybe the following summer. But there is a great possibility that Erling will leave this summer. We will see."

Tensions in the past and Pogba's contract

Manchester United never maintained a stable relationship with Raiola, especially when Ferguson was in charge and mainly due to the famous agent's demonstrative personality.

Raiola has hit out at the club, Ferguson and even former coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on several occasions in the past over the way Pogba has been treated at Old Trafford.

Pogba's contract is set to expire in June and neither of the two parties seem willing to put pen to paper on a new deal. The Frenchman's future remains uncertain, but what is clear is that he can sign a pre-contract with another team from January 1.

Pogba, then, could leave, while Raiola's other top client doesn't seem likely to join.