Erling Haaland could have ended up in Italy

6 months ago 36
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Rather than making a name for himself in the Bundesliga or PL, Erling Haaland could have taken charge of Serie A.

The president of Naples, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has just announced that he almost signed Manchester City star Erling Haaland when he was just emerging at the highest European level.

De Laurentiis was very interested in recruiting Haaland when he was at RB Salzburg. He told the FT’s Football Business Summit: “I remember when I discovered Haaland, for me he was a great player, while my managers were all perplexed because they didn’t know him yet. He was playing in Salzburg and I wanted to buy him for 50 million euros.”

Raiola dissuaded De Laurentiis from recruiting Haaland

Then Mino Raiola took me to a living room and said to me: “Look, don’t tell me these things, we’re friends. I’ve already taken care of Haaland, don’t worry, don’t get involved.” I backed down and the negotiation ended there. He had already organized everything and covered his benefits. Raiola was professionally impeccable, but he pursued his interests, not those of the clubs. If clubs are in debt, they need to wake up.”

With Victor Osimhen, De Laurentiis was still able to find the miss in attack. And before him, Dries Mertens, Gonzalo Higuain and Edinson Cavani also shone under the Partenopei tunic.

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Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.

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