We know the story of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s persistent attempt to get Manchester United to sign a young Molde player. The United legend was dismissed, the rest is Erling Haaland history. There was also another important signing Solskjaer fought for as United manager, again “he fell on deaf ears. The Premier League Player of the Season award shows the flair Solskjaer showed.
The English media United in Focus tells and draws the big lines: “The most important player for Arsenal has been Declan Rice, who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to bring to United before he eventually left West Ham for Arsenal in 2023.”
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“Despite Arsenal competing for the biggest trophies and not United, Bruno Fernandes was named FWA Footballer of the Year ahead of Rice, which sparked a lot of debate. Fernandes and Rice were both nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award this week.”
“One can only imagine the ‘damage’ they would have done if they were in the same team, as would have been the case if Solskjaer had scored his desired goals. Two years after Solskjaer made it clear to United that he wanted Rice, Arsenal initially paid £100 million to make him the most expensive English player in 2023.”
“Fernandes has now revealed that he wishes Rice had joined United, saying he sees him as the perfect match for the club.”
“I’ve always said that Rice was a player who could be played for Man United, I was very sad when he chose to go to Arsenal. I always thought he would be a perfect match for our club,” Fernandes told FWA.
Solskjaer saw it. Once again.
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