OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has sensationally revealed that Erling Haaland ‘struggled with bad knees’ during their time together at Molde.
However, that has not stopped Manchester United from pursuing the Borussia Dortmund star, who is this summer’s top transfer target for numerous clubs.
Haaland, 20, is hot property after scoring an astonishing 33 goals this season.
United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona have all been linked with the Norway international.
And SunSport exclusively revealed that Manchester City are keen on signing Haaland in a club-record transfer package worth a mind-blowing £300million.
But United may have an advantage over other suitors after Solskjaer brought Haaland through at former side Molde.
The hitman’s performances under Solskjaer resulted in a European breakthrough with RB Salzburg, where he lasted just six months before being snapped up by Dortmund in January 2020.
But Solskjaer has now revealed that Haaland suffered from bad knees during his time playing in Norway.
And that could raise question marks over the striker’s longevity, with many great players in days gone by hamstrung by early injury problems.
However, Solskjaer refused to rule out making a bid for Haaland this summer.
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And the tactician claims he knew Haaland would be a great player when he gave the forward his debut age 16.
Solskjaer said in a fan Q&A via Sky Sports: “He came as a 16-year-old, of course, you never know with injuries.
“He struggled really badly with bad knees when he came, but I could see someone with a personality.
“I remember him brushing off and putting our centre-back and centre-midfielder, two big, massive lads, he put them on the floor and asked them to get up.
“He’s a born winner, he’s got a great personality. He’s proving to everyone how good a player he is.
“We played against Zenit in the Europa League play-off and the ref came to me after and said, ‘He’ll play in the Champions League soon’. We did know.
“He’s a top personality. I played with [his dad[ Alf, he’s a bit old school in that respect. He’s a winner.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
