HOW JUVENTUS CAME CLOSE TO SIGNING ERLING HAALAND WHEN HE WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD
When discussing the meteoric rise of Erling Haaland, one can’t help but wonder how close some clubs came to signing him before he became a global sensation. Among the teams that almost had the young Norwegian in their ranks is Juventus, who scouted Haaland as early as when he was 15.
In 2016, Haaland was already showing promise while playing for his hometown club, Bryne FK, in Norway. Juventus scouts took note of the tall and powerful teenager, and negotiations with Bryne were initiated. However, despite the Italian giants' interest, the deal ultimately didn’t materialize. Juventus were eager to bring Haaland to their prestigious youth academy, but complications arose concerning how the young striker would be integrated into their system.
At the time, Haaland's father, Alf-Inge Haaland, a former professional footballer himself, played a critical role in shaping his son’s early career decisions. Alf-Inge reportedly turned down Juventus’ offer because he felt his son would not receive enough first-team opportunities in Italy. Juventus’ track record of loaning young players or letting them develop in the reserves wasn’t deemed ideal for Erling’s growth. The Haaland camp was more focused on finding a club where Erling could rapidly progress and get regular playing time, which was crucial at such a formative age.
This decision turned out to be a wise one. Haaland eventually joined Molde FK in Norway, where he thrived under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. His performances at Molde set the stage for his next big move to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, where his career truly began to take off on the European stage. His sensational goal-scoring record with Salzburg, especially in the UEFA Champions League, captured the attention of Europe’s top clubs, leading to his eventual transfer to Borussia Dortmund.
While Juventus narrowly missed out on signing Haaland, it’s fascinating to consider how his career trajectory might have changed had he joined the Serie A club. The landscape of European football could look quite different today if one of the most sought-after strikers had been donning the black and white stripes of Juventus early in his career.
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