Whe Erling Haaland did not sound like a professional who was willing to change. The Dortmund striker commented with a smile on the month-long speculation about alleged emigration plans and the latest media reports about an almost immoral offer from Chelsea FC amounting to 175 million euros: “That is a lot of money for a single person. To be honest, I hope it’s just rumors. ”He countered further questions about his future on Tuesday at the training camp in Bad Ragaz with a reference to his contract:“ It will run for another three years. I enjoy my time here. There’s nothing more to say about that.”
It remains to be seen whether the hoped-for calm will return at the Revierklub. Finally, there is still time until the end of the changeover period at the end of August. In addition, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramowitsch is said to continue to be determined to lure the top scorer of the past Champions League season to Chelsea, and has already released the second-highest transfer fee ever paid. Haaland remains calm for the time being: “I don’t read everything and not every day. I haven’t spoken to my advisor for over a month until yesterday. I don’t care much about it. “
But even Matthias Sammer, who has been working as an external consultant to the listed BVB since 2018, sees a potential offer for Haaland as a pain threshold. This would be achieved if “a madman” came and offered 200 million euros, as he said on Tuesday at an Amazon press conference in Munich. “How am I supposed to explain this to the shareholders?” Was his rhetorical question about paying such a sum. However, Sammer assumes that the goalscorer will remain. “That’s how it is discussed,” said the 53-year-old.
“Otherwise I’ll get mad at him”
The first rumors of Haaland’s departure had already surfaced in February when a meeting between Haaland’s father Alf-Inge and agent Mino Raiola and Joan Laporta, the president of FC Barcelona, became known. The reaction of the BVB top at the time, not wanting to give up the exceptional striker under any circumstances, had little impressed Raiola at the time. “You have to wait and see if this statement lasts until September 1st,” commented the Italian players’ agent calmly.
Borussia’s strong sprint at the end of the season with the late qualification for the premier class and the cup win increased the feel-good factor for Haaland. But this does not satisfy his hunger for success. “Our team has to become more stable,” he demanded, “I want to win titles”. He trusts his new coach to take the team to a higher level. “I believe in Marco Rose. In Salzburg there were eleven guys on the pitch, everyone ran and fought to talk, ”said Haaland, referring to the time they spent together at the Austrian first division club.
Much will depend on whether new signing Donyell Malen from PSV Eindhoven can close the big gap that Jadon Sancho left in Dortmund with his 85 million euro move to Manchester United. Even before the 22-year-old Dutchman’s first training session at his new club on Tuesday, Haaland jokingly swore his new comrade-in-arms to mutual success: “I hope he’s looking forward to being on the pitch with me. I told him to give me a lot of templates, otherwise I’ll get mad at him. “
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