Man Utd target Haaland keen to echo careers of two former Red Devils

Erling Haaland TEAMtalk

Borussia Dortmund youngster Erling Braut Haaland wants to emulate the success and longevity of superstars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Haaland, 20, is currently taking the Bundesliga by storm and scoring at the rate of one goal per game. Having scored 29 in 27 games for Salzburg, he has found the net 33 times from 32 outings with BVB.

Unsurprisingly, he has drawn favourable comparisons with some of the game’s greatest players. The Norway international will be presented with the Golden Boy 2020 award in Turin on Monday night.

Ibrahimovic is still performing to a high level with AC Milan despite turning 39 in October. The former Manchester United attacker has an incredible 10 league goals from six outings this term.

Not much more needs to be said about Ronaldo, who has won virtually everything the game has to offer. The Portugal international will be 36 in February but he too is still scoring for fun in Serie A.

The former United and Real Madrid ace has 10 in seven outings for Juventus and Haaland is clearly in awe of the pair.

“Two champions, two phenomena,” he told Tuttosport. “I was bewitched by seeing them on TV. “They’re the idols of many footballers, including me. They are examples to be imitated for the continuity that allows them to remain at the highest level for so many years.”

Euro silverware the target

Ronaldo has lifted the Champions League trophy on five occasions – four times with Real and once with Manchester United. Ibrahimovic has yet to win the big one but has numerous medals from his time with the biggest European clubs.

Haaland knows Dortmund have a way to go to better Germany’s top team – but his dreams have no limit.

“My biggest dream is obviously to win the Champions League,” added the player linked with a move to the Premier League. “I want to win trophies with Dortmund.

“Right now, Bayern Munich are the best team in the world and we have to find a way to reach a higher level and beat them. We will try, with all our strength.”

The Westfalenstadion outfit currently sit fifth in the German top-flight standings. Six points behind table-topping Borussia Dortmund, they parted company with coach Lucian Favre on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo Juventus

They did finish top of Champions League Group F, however, with 13 points from their six matches. Haaland’s dream is still alive but it will be under the guidance of another manager.

They have been drawn against Spanish side Sevilla in the round of 16 while Bayern Munich face Lazio.

 

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