> ”It’s Sunday, March 7, 2021, when \[Mino\] Raiola’s phone rings. The agent knows the number and answers - “We need to talk!”, Hasan Salihamidžić begins the conversation. It’s been less than 24 hours since Erling Haaland and Dortmund lost 4-2 to FC Bayern.
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> Dortmund were already aware that Haaland will not fulfill his contract, which runs until June 30, 2024. He has a release clause that BVB had to grant to agent Raiola when they signed the striker from Salzburg for €20 million. Amount of the release clause: €60 million.
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> Raiola listens carefully to what Salihamidžić has to say. Haaland would visit him at home. Raiola gave Haaland precise directions. They read: Salihamidžić‘s property in the Munich district of Harlaching. Haaland drives to Brazzo’s house and finds himself face to face with the Bayern sporting director. “I like the house. I’d like to have it,” Haaland tells Brazzo, before adding, “But for free!”
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> The cheeky remark breaks the ice between the two. Haaland is impressed by how the Bayern management is acting as a team. They show him how the club is planning for him and how they intend to build the team around him. He is THE player of FC Bayern’s sporting future, they told him. Bayern will go beyond the limit financially to sign him, something never before seen in the club’s history. The words had an impact on Haaland.
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> Then Raiola picks up the phone. He tells Salihamidžić: “You’ve convinced the boy! Now we need to talk about money.” - The agent tells him about the demands. Salihamidžić tells Raiola that he needs to consult with the boards in Munich. He can never decide on such a sum on his own.
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> After a few weeks, Bayern contacted Raiola: They had prepared an offer. Raiola then boarded a jet and flew to Munich for negotiations. The agent tells the Bayern delegation that the Haalands are genuinely interested. Then he listens to what Salihamidžić has to say. While Bayern can’t pay as high a salary as Premier League clubs, team Haaland is assured that father and son will receive a generous share of any future record sale.
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> Raiola wasn’t just holding talks with Bayern. Together with Haaland’s father Alfie, he was traveling halfway across Europe to listen to offers from clubs.
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> Raiola calls FC Bayern: “The transfer won’t happen. What I can tell you is that you were top of the list for a long time, from a sporting perspective. You had the best arguments. But financially, you were outbid.”