Manchester United refused to pay £4M for Erling Haaland - Solskjaer reveals

By Amaechi Agbo

Former Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that his former employers rebuffed his advice to sign current Premier League top scorer, Erling Haaland 6 years ago.

Solskjaer hit out at the club for failing to take his advice and sign the striker, now flying at City Solskjaer was Haaland’s coach at Norwegian side Molde and recommended the young striker to United at the time, but no move materlialised and Haaland is now breaking records across town at Manchester City.

Speaking at An Evening with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, reported by The Athletic, the Norwegian revealed that United had missed out on signing Haaland for just £4m.

“I got in contact with United because we had this talented striker who they should have had.

“But they didn’t listen, unfortunately. Four million, I asked for. But they never signed him. Four million! Don’t ask [where he is now]. He’s too good!”

He said

Solskjaer also called on the Glazer family to push through a takeover, saying the facilities have been allowed to decay and claiming that United ‘need to catch up with the other teams’.

“It needs to be done,” he said. “Old Trafford is neglected. The training ground has been neglected. We need to catch up with the other teams.”

Manchester City signed Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £51m in June.

He went on to score a record 35 Premier League and 12 UEFA Champions League goals as Manchester City keep hope of their back-to-back League title. Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho as Manchester United’s Manager on 19 December 2018 on till end of the season.

On 28 March 2019, having won 14 of his 19 matches in charge, Solskjær signed a threeyear contract to take over as Manchester United manager on a permanent basis but was sacked in November

Gusau hails Team Nigeria’s Performance at U18/20 Africa Athletics Championship

The immediate past Vice-President of the Confederation of African Athletics CAA, Engr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau has hailed the performance of team Nigeria at the just concluded CAA’s Under 18/20 Championship held in Ndola, Zambia.

Team Nigeria won 17 Gold, 10 Silver and 9 Bronze medals to finish in second place on the medal table behind South Africa at the quadrennial championship.

In his congratulatory message on Friday, the highly revered Athletics Administrator says the performance of the team is a testament to the fact that talents are abound in Nigeria; while stressing on the need for talent discovery, training and exposure to global platforms, which according to him, will in turn result to future podium finish.

“I want to extend my heart felt congratulations to these young Nigerians who made the country proud at the just concluded African U18/20 Athletics Championship in Zambia.

The records achieved is a testament to the fact that talents are abound in Nigeria; and these talents require training and exposure to global platforms in order to achieve podium finish in the near future.

I am impressed by the performance and feat achieved by Samuel Ogazi, obliterating the 46.26secs record of Lythe Pillay, the South African in 400m with his 46.01secs.That is the Nigerian spirit!

Others are appreciated, especially Faith Okwose, Fejiro Djoma and Justine Jimoh for flying the country’s flag high in Zambia.”Engr.Gusau said.

Recall,that Nigeria finished top at the medals table in the last edition held at the Stade Felix Hoouphouet-Biogny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 2019, producing stars like Favour Ofili, Grace Nwokocha, Rosemary Chukwuma and