Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted Erling Haaland and his agent Mino Raiola turned down a ‘better offer’ from Manchester United to join the Bundesliga side.

Haaland joined the German side from Austrian side RB Salzburg for £17m in January 2020 under the noses of the Red Devils.

Since then the 21-year-old has gone on to become one of the best strikers in the world, scoring 70 goals in 69 appearances.

Watzke though has admitted that his side’s offer for the Norwegian star was ‘not the best’.

German publication Sport1 have published comments from the Dortmund CEO in which he says: ‘The offer from Manchester United was better.

‘However Mino Raiola realised that Erling is better off with us.’

Dortmund are well known to be a good breeding ground of top young and upcoming stars in football.

Jadon Sancho enjoyed a highly successful stint at the German side before completing his £73m move to Manchester United in the summer.

Jude Bellingham has also impressed since his arrival from Birmingham with the 18-year-old midfielder already making 61 appearances for the club and breaking into the England fold.

Watzke said: ‘People notice that gifted people make a breakthrough with us the quickest.

‘That is a resounding argument for the players, the parents of the players and the advisors.”

‘The fact that we discovered the players on our own is long gone. But we get it. We have no inhibitions about letting 17-year-olds play.’

Though Manchester United failed to land the striker, they are of many clubs who could look to pursue him next summer when his £64m release clause kicks in.