Erling Haaland in a Bayern Munich jersey? What sounds like a hard-to-imagine scenario today apparently almost became a reality many years ago. Bayern legend Hermann Gerland has now revealed just how early the Munich club had the current global star on their radar—and why, in the end, a signing didn’t happen after all.
Gerland discovered Haaland when he was still playing for Molde FK and was largely unknown internationally. The longtime Bayern coach first took notice of the forward during a youth international match between Norway and Germany.
In an interview with the *Abendzeitung München*, Gerland recalled: “I watched him back then with the Norwegian U-national team when they played against Germany, and I thought to myself: ‘What’s going on here? Who is this guy?’—I immediately called FC Bayern and said, ‘We have to sign him.’—Haaland was still playing for Molde at the time. Three or four days later, he came to visit the FC Bayern campus.”
This suggests that the Munich club was apparently seriously interested in Haaland very early on. According to Gerland’s account, the transfer didn’t fall through at the time due to either an astronomical transfer fee or extraordinary salary demands.
Bayern didn’t want to pay the money
What’s particularly remarkable from today’s perspective: According to Gerland, Haaland would have been available at a relatively low price. Even in terms of salary, the young Norwegian’s expectations at the time were on a completely different level than they are today.
“The transfer fee would have been reasonable, and he wanted to earn between 10,000 and 15,000 euros gross. But in the end, FC Bayern didn’t want to pay.”
Gerland also cited a reason why the club’s decision-makers apparently had doubts about signing him at the time: “Some said, ‘We have Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski up front. Where would he play?’—Things like that happen.”
From the perspective of that time, the competition in Bayern’s offense was indeed fierce. Lewandowski developed into one of the world’s best center forwards in Munich, while Müller played a central role for the record champions for many years.
In hindsight, however, the decision must still be painful. Haaland continued to develop and, after stints with Molde and Red Bull Salzburg, eventually made a name for himself internationally at Borussia Dortmund. Since the summer of 2022, the Norwegian has been playing for Manchester City and has a market value of 220 million euros.
From a rising talent to a global superstar
Gerland’s story also illustrates just how difficult it can be to evaluate young players. Even when exceptional potential is recognized early on, clubs must decide whether a young talent has enough room to grow within the existing roster.
Gerland himself was apparently immediately convinced by Haaland. The fact that the Norwegian visited the Bayern campus just a few days after his call shows how seriously his recommendation was taken at first.
Nevertheless, a signing never materialized. Haaland went on to become one of the most sought-after strikers in European soccer.
Particularly bitter from Bayern’s perspective: Years later, the Munich club once again took a close look at the Norwegian. By that point, however, the financial stakes were entirely different from those of that first potential transfer.
Gerland remains unfazed by the decision made back then. His closing remark aptly sums up the business of young talent: “These things happen.”