BORUSSIA DORTMUND sporting director Sebastian Kehl claimed Erling Haaland became a BURDEN to the club.
The revelation comes in the same season Haaland left the German side to sign for Manchester City.
He departed Dortmund with 86 goals in 89 matches, but according to Kehl, on and off the pitch the striker proved problematic.
Kehl told Bild: “As much as we have always appreciated Erling and the success he has had with our shirt, in the end the matter had definitely become a burden, both in the dressing room and for the club.
“In general, for the whole environment, it was just him. The timing of the sale was right, both for us and for City.
“The fact that our first ten goals this season have been scored by ten different players proves it.”
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Dortmund are currently second in the league, one point above champions Bayern Munich but trailing SC Freiburg on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Haaland has kicked off his City career with 12 goals in just eight appearances.
That included two consecutive hat-tricks, making the Norwegian a hot favourite for the golden boot.
And despite his proven scoring record, Kehl still insisted his transfer away from the club has been a benefit to Dortmund.
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He said: “I would have liked to have been certain (about the Norwegian’s departure) a little earlier, because that issue limited our preparation.
“Without him, we have the possibility to trust the other players.
“The fact that our first ten competitive goals have been scored by ten different players shows that pretty well.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
