Haaland ready to leave Dortmund and make the ‘next step’ – Matthaus

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
• 3 min read

Lothar Matthaus believes Erling Haaland is ready to make the next step in his career and join one of Europe’s elite clubs from Borussia Dortmund.

The Norwegian is already viewed as one of the most devastating forward in world football despite only truly emerging onto the scene last season, first with Salzburg and then with Dortmund after joining in January.

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After signing for Dortmund at the turn of the year, he went on to score a magnificent 16 goals in 17 starts over all competitions.

In 2020/21, he has already scored 17 goals in 13 starts.

Haaland is being courted by nearly every big side in Europe, with Man Utd, Man City, and Real Madrid the teams most mentioned as rumoured suitors.

Matthaus reckons it is a matter of time before he leaves BVB, and thinks he is actually ready now to make the step up.

“This positivity that he radiates on the team, which is why I think that someday Haaland will not be playing at Dortmund anymore and will make the next step,” the German legend told the official Bundesliga site.

“He is already ready, and we are proud to have him in the Bundesliga. Dortmund need to be pleased to have gotten him, because he is a striker that fits to a club with such emotions.

“At the age of 20, he is a machine. He is a flying striker.”

Matthaus believes that Haaland has already developed into a leader despite his young age, and that he has the talismanic presence of Robert Lewandowski of Bayern.

“Erling Haaland is thought of at Dortmund like Robert Lewandowski at Bayern,” he continued.

“As a forward not just responsible for goals but for putting the team on his back. He’s a leader at 20 years old.”

Haaland reportedly has a €75m release clause in his current contract that can be triggered from 2022 onwards. He has previously provided hints about his future, with the aforementioned Man City, Man Utd, and Real Madrid left on red alert following his comments.