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.
