Erling Haaland is eager to play as much as possible, despite concerns about his fitness, in order to not hinder a potential summer move away from Borussia Dortmund.
Haaland is expected to leave the German club after the end of the season, with Real Madrid and Manchester City the favourites to sign the prolific striker.
Several injuries this season have stopped Haaland from showing his full potential, with his latest problem taking place at the end of March whilst on international duty for Norway.
Dortmund coach Marco Rose has admitted that Haaland is not pain-free, as he spoke to the press ahead of his team’s game on Saturday against Wolfsburg.
Haaland’s injury concerns
Haaland has played in Dortmund‘s last two Bundesliga games – against RB Leipzig and Stuttgart – but German media outlet Sport1 have learned the 21-year-old is worried his injuries will frustrate clubs that are looking to sign him. It’s believed that Haaland has asked Dortmund not to make his injury diagnosis public.
Sport1 also say Haaland‘s reported muscle problems when he didn’t play in early February were actually more severe, with all information pointing to a tear in his thigh.
“You can’t force a player to take an MRI scan if he doesn’t want to,” said Rose. “It’s impossible for him not to have pain.
“I received a photo a few weeks ago [during the international break] where his foot was pointing 90 degrees away from his leg.”
Haaland has missed 17 matches and 95 days through injury in all competitions this season and he could be taking a career-changing risk by continuing to play, should his current ankle injury get worse.
Marca
