Solskjaer disclosed the near-misses of signing two global superstars

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that the club attempted to sign both Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham during his tenure.

In an interview with The Athletic, Solskjaer admitted that the Red Devils had made significant efforts to bring in some of the biggest names in world football, including Haaland, Bellingham, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, and Moisés Caicedo.

Speaking about Haaland, Solskjaer said, "We tried to sign Haaland before he even played for Red Bull Salzburg. I called the club and said, 'You have to sign this guy. He's going to be world class.' That was in June or July of 2018. And they said, 'No, no, we have enough reports.'"

The Norwegian manager also expressed his admiration for Bellingham, revealing that United had made a serious attempt to sign the young midfielder before he joined Borussia Dortmund. "We desperately wanted him," Solskjaer said. "He's a player made for Manchester United, but I respect his decision to go to Dortmund. It was probably the sensible thing to do."

Solskjaer's comments have shed light on the club's transfer strategy under his management. While the Norwegian was able to bring in some high-profile players, such as Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, he was unable to land some of the biggest targets on his wishlist.

Financial Constraints

The former United boss cited the club's financial constraints as the main reason for their failure to sign Haaland, Kane, and Rice. "We couldn't buy the players I mentioned to the club," Solskjaer said. "Erling Haaland, before he debuted at Red Bull Salzburg. Declan Rice, who wouldn't have cost what he cost in the summer. And I would have signed Harry Kane every day of the week, and I understood that he wanted to come. But the club didn't have the budget because of the financial limitations from Covid-19, there was no bottomless pit."

A Missed Opportunity

Solskjaer's revelations have sparked debate among Manchester United fans. Many are disappointed that the club missed out on the opportunity to sign such talented players. However, others believe that the club made the right decisions in the long run.