Visit to FCB boss’s home: Haaland was this close to joining Bayern

That FC Bayern was interested in Erling Haaland is nothing new. However, there are now interesting new details about the record champion's pursuit.

A secret visit, a cheeky remark – and a failed mega-deal: In his new book "Transfer Insider," BILD's football chief Christian Falk reveals how close Erling Haaland once actually was to a move to FC Bayern .

It was March 7, 2021, less than 24 hours after Dortmund's 2-4 loss to Munich, when Hasan Salihamidzic took the first step. "We need to talk!" Bayern's then sporting director is said to have told star agent Mino Raiola.

By this time, Dortmund already knew that Haaland would not fulfill his contract until 2024. An exit clause of 60 million euros opened up new options for him early on.

Raiola listened to what Salihamidzic had to say – and arranged a secret visit to the Bayern boss's home in Harlaching. Through a side entrance, directly into the garage, Haaland entered the villa unseen. There, the striker's first sentence: "I like the house. I'd like to have it – but for free!" The joke broke the ice, and Haaland felt comfortable.

In the conversation, Bayern officials explained how much they wanted to build the team around the Norwegian. Haaland was the player of the future, for whom they would even go financially further than ever before. The impression stuck – even Raiola is said to have acknowledged: "You've convinced the boy! Now we need to talk about money."

Weeks later, the Bayern delegation met with the agent again, this time in Munich. The Munich team couldn't offer Premier League wages but promised a generous share for father and son Haaland in a future record sale. They wanted to enhance their offer with this.

But Raiola was also negotiating with other clubs. Together with Haaland's father Alfie, he toured Europe, speaking with clubs from England, Spain, and Italy. In the end, there was the sobering call: "The transfer will not happen. What I can tell you: You were at the top sportingly for a long time. You had the best arguments. But financially, you were outpaced."

The rest is history: Haaland transferred to Manchester City in 2022, where he immediately collected titles and goals in rapid succession. For FC Bayern , the chapter remained a missed opportunity – and the realization that even the best sporting arguments are not always enough when money is the decisive factor in international competition.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.