Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has ruled out a move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland this summer.
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The 20-year-old Norway international is the most coveted player on the planet today, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid all rumored to be planning bids of over 100 million pounds to get Haaland in.
Haaland has had international service with Norway Filip Filipovic / Getty Images
There have also been convincing rumors suggesting Bayern could join the race, but Rummenigge has quickly gone on to dismiss them, questioning why anyone would take the stories seriously as Bayern already have Robert Lewandowski.
“I do not know where the rumors came from,” he told Sportbild. “I can only say one thing: we have the world’s best football player in this position, Robert Lewandowski, who has a contract until 2023.
“And I’m convinced that with his professionalism – if you only see how he trains and takes care of his body – he’s not coming to the end of his career yet. Lewandowski is well on his way to breaking Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals in a Bundesliga season. He is at the height of his career. “
Lewandowski is the game’s best striker | Pool / Getty Images
Want to know where the rumors came from? Your own boss Hansi Flick.
In March, Flick insisted that “nothing can be ruled out” in terms of a possible move for Haaland, but to spend £ 150 million on a player to replace Lewandowski, who has scored 97 goals since the start of last season in all competitions, always seemed a bit far-fetched.
Haaland is doing his best to keep up with Lewandowski this year. His 21 goals in as many Bundesliga matches is an inhuman record, and yet Poland’s return at 35 on 25 is a whole new level of ridiculous.
?? When Erling Haaland became the youngest player in Champions League history to score 20 goals ⚽️⚽️ @ ErlingHaaland | @BVB | #UCL pic.twitter.com/1F6NnuhzER
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 24, 2021
Haaland have been in outstanding form, but Dortmund have struggled to make the most of it. They have dropped to fifth in the league table and are facing a battle to qualify for the Champions League, but Rummenigge insisted he still sees Edin Terzic’s side as his biggest competition in Germany.
“The most important thing for me is UEFA’s five – year rating,” Rummenigge explained. “Dortmund are still ahead of Leipzig, who are obviously doing well, but I would never underestimate Dortmund. They have a good team, they just have a difficult year.”
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