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"It's all bulls**t!" - Dortmund chief has say on Haaland transfer 'pact'

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans Joachim-Watzke has dismissed talk of 'pact' which allows Erling Haalan...



Soccer

"It's all bulls**t!" - Dortmund chief has say on Haaland transfer 'pact'

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans Joachim-Watzke has dismissed talk of 'pact' which allows Erling Haaland to leave at the end of this season. 

The 21-year old is arguably the hottest property in world football, but has a contract at Signal Iduna Park that runs until the summer of 2024.

Everyone from Real Madrid to Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with potential moves for Haaland, who is likely to command a world record fee.

But Watzke has dismissed talk that the Norwegian's departure next summer is a foregone conclusion.

In an interview with Sport1 in Germany, the Dortmund CEO addressed the rumoured transfer pact.

"It's all bullshit," Watzke said.

He added, “Some experts say, ‘they’re in the stock market, they’re going to have to sell Haaland next summer.’

"The decision as to whether or not to sell someone at our club is taken exclusively by the board. It has not yet been decided if he will leave next summer. We’ll see."

Despite being courted by some of Europe's biggest names, and having a talkative agent in the form of Mino Raiola, Watzke says Haaland will determine his own future.

“He is his own person," said the CEO, "In any case, at some point he will play for one of the best clubs in the world, even though he is already playing at one of the best clubs in the world.

"But I know, of course, that he is seduced by Real Madrid.”

Raiola spent a number of days in the spring touting Haaland to Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The free-speaking agent is likely to open himself to pitches within the next few months, but Watzke has no issue with the agent.

“The ball is in Erling’s court," he said, "I have a good relationship with Mino Raiola.

"It is not correct to assume that Mino only thinks about money. He also thinks about what is best for the player. Erling holds the key. I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic.”

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Borussia Dortmund Erling Haaland Hans-Joachim Watzke Mino Raiola Real Madrid