Erling Haaland has already scored 25 goals this season for Pep Guardiola’s side and guided his country, Norway to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as well.
He continued his formidable form by scoring a brace against West Ham last Saturday, helping the Cityzens seal a 3-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Haaland surprised fans with his presence off-field as well.
On 23rd December, 2025 Haaland took to Instagram and posted a photo with fellow compatriot and Manchester United legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He posted the photo with the caption, “Knowledge”, showcasing that he was picking the brains of the former Manchester United player and manager.
For United supporters, this exchange between fellow countrymen was a very nostalgic moment.
It painfully recalls Solskjaer’s unheeded 2019 push to sign Haaland who later joined local rival Manchester City and is thriving currently, fuelling the “what if” debates.
This story goes back much earlier than most people realise, and that’s why it still frustrates and reminisces Manchester United fans.
Solskjaer had actually urged Manchester United to sign Erling Haaland when he was still at Molde and later again before he went to Salzburg and then Dortmund. Ole knew exactly what Haaland would become because he worked with him closely when he was the manager of Molde.
United’s recruitment department decided not to move for Haaland, partially because he was regarded as a “risk” and partly because he was not yet a marquee name at the time, yet.
Fast forward to late 2019, Haaland exploded at Red Bull Salzburg, scoring goals for fun in the Champions League. By this point, Ole was United’s manager, and he was pushing hard to lure Haaland to Old Trafford once again.
This time, the issue was not belief, but rather conditions. Haaland’s camp, led by Mino Raiola, contended that; a low release clause (about £18-20 million), flexibility regarding Haaland’s future move and terms that would allow him to depart easily if a better project came across.
Ole wanted Haaland regardless and he was confident that he could construct the attack around him at United.
But United’s hierarchy hesitated once again. They didn’t want a contract where they wouldn’t totally control the player’s destiny, and there were concerns about strengthening a player who could later move to a rival.
Later, Borussia Dortmund accepted those terms and United didn’t.
And then the bitter twist came. Haaland ended up at arch rivals, Manchester City and dominated the league. Every record he broke confirmed Ole’s intuitions.
What made this so painful for United fans is not just that Manchester United missed out. It’s that they were right there, not once but twice.
There was also another familiar name amongst the Manchester United fans, but in the comment section.
Jack Grealish, who is on loan from Manchester City with Everton, commented “Ole Gunnar Knowledge.”
Grealish as well was strongly linked with Manchester United, particularly in the summer of 2020 when he was still at Aston Villa.
Manchester United, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer again, expressed a strong interest in signing him as a dynamic attacking midfielder/winger. Grealish later revealed in interviews (for example, in 2021 after joining City) that he was “really close” to heading to Old Trafford, but the deal fell through and nothing materialised, and he instead signed a new contract with Villa, which contained a £100 million release clause.
United’s interest was widely disclosed at the time, with the club enquiring about him and considering him a priority target alongside talents like as James Maddison. However, they prioritised other recruits (such as Jadon Sancho the next year) and rejected Villa’s exorbitant valuation demands.
A year later, in 2021, Manchester City activated his release clause and signed him for a British record £100 million, outbidding any further United interest.
Grealish probably knows he ends up at his boyhood club if the board actually backed Ole.
— s (@exfootballfan) December 23, 2025
If they’d shown some conviction, you’re talking Grealish, Haaland, even Rice all wearing United shirts by now. Instead, we let a whole potential dynasty slip through our fingers. https://t.co/rQRJmyAuj9
Manchester United fans still regret the loss of Grealish and Haaland because it serves as a subtle, repeating reminder that the club once saw the future, stood near enough to touch it, and somehow let it slide away as rivals converted those moments into victory.
