Erling Haaland was a step away from joining Juventus, reveals Fabrizio Romano

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Erling Haaland is now considered the striker of the present – and the future.

From Real Madrid to Manchester United, many of the top clubs in Europe are looking to sign him. Yet his release clause will only be valid from summer 2022, and so Borussia Dortmund are hoping to keep him for another season.

What many don’t know is that back in the summer of 2018, Haaland already came close to joining a top club: Juventus were really close to signing him.

Indeed, in December 2017 Juventus invited Erling and his family to their stadium to watch Juve-Inter in the stands. They had a good feeling about him and in the following summer tried to buy Haaland from Molde – his first club in Norway – for €5 million.

The player's response: “No, thanks.” Erling wanted to sign for RB Salzburg, where he could take centre stage and join the first team straight away.

By comparison, Juventus would most likely have sent him on loan for a year to another Italian club or sent him to their own Under 23 team (which currently plays in the Italian third division).

Erling was not happy with either option. He was very young at the time, but he wanted to sign for Salzburg to make it to the first team and play in the Champions League.

This was a perfect plan, as from here he joined Borussia Dortmund and became a star of international football. Fast-forward to today and all the best clubs want him.