Dutch club AGF's sporting director Stig-Inge Bjornebye has admitted that he turned down the opportunity to sign Erling Haaland when the striker was a teenager.
The Norwegian star, who has recently helped Manchester City achieve a historic Treble while breaking goalscoring records in the Premier League and Champions League, was not considered an exceptional talent during his early teens, according to Bjornebye. The Dutchman had a chance to closely evaluate Haaland, who happened to be the son of his former Norway teammate, Alf-Inge Haaland. However, the decision was made to pass on signing the young striker. The City star would later join Molde, where he made his first-team debut under the guidance of former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
"Molde snatched him from in front of us. He wasn't really something we considered at the time. So it's well done to Molde and more so, well done to Haaland." He further commented, "Oh look, sometimes you hit the bullseye, sometimes you miss out. It's one of the most difficult things you do in a football club... scout young players. It's pretty unpredictable.
"There's been a few 'why didn't I take him?'. And I'm sure there'll be a few in the future. The main thing is to be successful with the ones you've taken."
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