Manchester City staff ‘have been cracking jokes about how they paid less for £51m Erling Haaland than rivals United did for £52m Fred’ – and young superstar ‘dismissed out of hand months ago’ interest in him from Old Trafford
Manchester City staff have been cracking jokes at the expense of their local rivals Manchester United after securing the services of Erling Haaland for less than the fee the Red Devils splashed out on Fred.
The reigning Premier League champions confirmed on Tuesday they had agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund to sign the Norwegian on a five-year deal worth around £385,000 a week.
City announced announced that the Norway international will join Pep Guardiola’s squad for next season after beating Real Madrid to his signature.
Man City staff joked over paying less for Erling Haaland (above) than Man United did for Fred
The club were expected to part with £63million to trigger Haaland’s release clause but have secured the striker’s services for £12m less.
City now believe they have signed a player who could be worth upwards of €200m (£171m) for an enormous bargain, according to ESPN.
Staff at the club have even reportedly cracked jokes at the expense of their local rivals Manchester United over the deal.
Pep Guardiola’s (right) side parted with £12million less than the expected release clause
They are said to have quipped that the £51m they have paid to bring Haaland to the Etihad is less than the £52m fee United splashed out to sign midfield flop Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018.
To rub salt in the wound, the Red Devils had once believed they were so close to bringing Haaland to Old Trafford that they had begun looking into travel options for the youngster.
But ESPN claim that Haaland’s camp dismissed the interest from…