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3 reasons why Erling Haaland chose Dortmund over Man United

By Parth Jhaveri

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: Erling Braut Haaland of RB Salzburg looks on from the bench as players inspect the pitch ahead of the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: Erling Braut Haaland of RB Salzburg looks on from the bench as players inspect the pitch ahead of the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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2. Neck to neck competition for a starter’s role at United

Even if Erling Braut Haaland would have moved to Old Trafford, he wouldn’t get a guaranteed starting spot in the team.

People simply hate queuing. Queuing at malls, at restaurants is something which people don’t really accept. Footballers sulk when they have to wait for their chances. Haaland too would have frowned if he would have to play second fiddle for a majority of the campaign.

Manchester United have real lack of goalscoring problems in their team. Earlier in the season when Anthony Martial was injured and Marcus Rashford looked poorer than a Sunday league striker, United fanbase started scrutinizing the sale of Romelu Lukaku in the summer. The lack of depth in the attack still persists but Rashford and Martial have mended their ways, at least for now, and lead the Red Devils’ attack.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has always been vocal about trusting and using young players because they’ll be the torchbearers for the club tomorrow but even if Haaland would have signed for United, there’s very little chance he would have been preferred over Martial and Rashford. The duo has scored 26 goals among them showing signs of clinical finishing and dexterity.

Solskjaer’s team already has a gifted teenage striker who will be breaking into the starting eleven on a more regular basis. Mason Greenwood is United’s third-highest goal-getter with eight goals under his belt already. Greenwood is shaping up to be a fine all-round attacker at Old Trafford. Sloskjaer wouldn’t possibly hamper his growth by bringing another teenager who can pose some serious threat to Greenwood and his confidence.

Paco Alcacer is the club’s main striker, but has struggled with injury throughout his career and has not completed a full 90 minutes this season since August. Therefore, Haaland at Dortmund will get a starter’s role.  The likes of Sancho, Thorgan Hazard and Marco Reus will supply ammunition to the Norwegian’s shooting gun.

There’s an entire possibility that Favre will play two strikers. Haaland’s versatility can come in handy if Reus is unavailable. Going to Westfalensadion is an easy decision keeping in mind that he won’t nail down a starting spot immediately at the Theatre of Dreams.

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