Dortmund only a stop-over for goal monster Haaland

One of Europe’s most wanted footballers dropped in on time when Borussia Dortmund’s squad returned to training after the Bundesliga’s winter-break this Friday morning.

Witnesses speak of 22 minutes past 8 as the exact arrival time. First photos were published showing the Norwegian striker star Erling Haaland on the passenger seat of a dark-colored limousine.

New faces might be nothing unusual as several football clubs are trying to improve their performance in the season’s second leg.

But things around the 19-year-old spearhead seem more profound.

This Saturday, Dortmund’s squad is traveling to the South of Spain to attend a winter training camp in Marbella.

Haaland is the Blacks and Yellows new hope trying to save a so-far disappointing season. Expectations are weighing heavily on the man’s shoulders who scored 28 goals in 22 games and was the reason for a fierce bidding battle among leading European sides as an exit-clause worth 20 million came to light.

• Budapest, Puskás Arena – Here is everything you need to know!
• Puskás posthumously honoured with World Sports Legends Award

Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola proudly announced to have received between 12 to 18 serious offers.

Other than Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus, and RB Leipzig, Dortmund could offer a regular place in the starting eleven next to a reported yearly salary of 8 million euros.
A robust box-striker was Borussia’s missing tool as the club’s leaders admitted it was a mistake not to have signed a spearhead in advance of the current season.

The example of Jadon Sancho might have been a shining example to strengthen the club’s reputation to be an excellent place for promising youngsters to prepare for top European sides. The London-born strikers’ value increased from 7 million to over 100 million after he joined in from Manchester City.

As for Sancho Dortmund for Haaland is only a suitable stop-over after a meteoric rise on the international football stage. Despite having signed a contract until 2024, the Leeds-born striker is aiming at one of the big clubs in the next years.

Raiola said the striker’s desire is to one day turn up in the Premier League. “We hope that day is coming,” the disputed agent announced, adding Dortmund was the best option for his client at present.

The 52-year-old Italian said it wasn’t the right time to join the Premier League.

“Dortmund is the best step for him now,”

the influential manager said. Famous stars such as new Milan arrival Zlatan Ibrahimovic and United star and French 2018 World Champion Paul Pogba are cornerstones of his empire.

For Dortmund coach Lucien Favre, his strikers’ future visions only play a minor role. The Swiss manager is under pressure after the 2012 German champion announced wanting to win the 2019/2020 national title.

Rumors speak of Favre having to fight for his job, and only a convincing performance in the season’s second half might save his position. Favre was pushed by club leaders and key-performers of his squad to change the tactical system counting on a more risky and open style.

Haaland is the decisive factor on the bumpy road. A talented team, regularly switching between enchanting artistic forwarding football and disappointing performance, now entirely depends on goals delivered by the former RB Salzburg professional.

Missing effectiveness was one of Dortmund’s significant problems in the first half of the Bundesliga’s campaign.

Who other than the blond goal-monster should be turning things to good as Spanish striker Paco Alcacer is about to leave for Atletico?

Help is needed from Dortmund’s team leaders such as Marco Reus, Mats Hummels, Thomas Delany, and Axel Witsel, former German international Lothar Matthaeus said. 150 times capped Matthaeus demanded more determination from the team’s bosses.

“So far, they have been rather silent leaders, but that has not been enough to address the club’s goals.”

Haaland is said to believe it is worthwhile to die for goal scoring. Considering that he might be the right man for a wakeup call.

Source: Xinhua – Berlin