sport news Demolition derby shows how Manchester City have left rivals Manchester United ... trends now CHRIS WHEELER: Man United thought they had Erling Haaland signed and sealed and they missed out on Jude Bellingham in similar circumstances… they no longer wield the same pulling power and find themselves with three Real Madrid cast-offs Erling Haaland set for unparalleled career should he keep up his scoring rate The signing of Haaland is the latest example of City staying ahead of United City are tweaking their winning team whereas United are gambling on big names By Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail Published: 22:30 BST, 3 October 2022 | Updated: 22:35 BST, 3 October 2022 Viewcomments Goals, hat-tricks, assists — Erling Haaland’s numbers are going north at an extraordinary rate at the start of what promises to be an unparalleled career with Manchester City. Just about the only figure that won’t change is the £51million City agreed to pay Borussia Dortmund to sign the striker in the summer. Triggering Haaland’s buy-out clause at Dortmund was good business for City, and looks even better after Sunday’s demolition derby at the Etihad. In December 2019, Manchester United believed they had Haaland signed and sealed. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thought a deal was in the bag after flying to Austria to speak to Haaland, his former Molde striker who was then at Red Bull Salzburg. Erling Haaland netted a hat trick against Manchester United in the derby game on Sunday But, unlike Dortmund, United were unwilling to accept the sell-on clauses being demanded by the player’s agent Mino Raiola and he moved to Germany instead. Three years on, and United never even entered Haaland’s thoughts when he was weighing up his next club earlier this year, according to new documentary Haaland: The Big Decision. The 22-year-old and his father Alfie used a points system to decide their best option, and City came top out of seven clubs. United weren’t one of them. Haaland could have joined Man United in 2019 if the club had agreed to sell-on clauses It has been clear for some time that United no longer wield their old pulling power, and that was brutally exposed in their 6-3 derby defeat. Each summer City tweak a winning team with players like Haaland to stay ahead of the curve, just like United used to under Sir Alex Ferguson. United now look more like City after their takeover, gambling big money to get among football’s high rollers. Their three ex-Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Casemiro cost a combined £125m before wages. Erik ten Hag signed former players Antony (right) and Lisandro Martinez (right) in the summer But Ronaldo didn’t make it off the bench at the Etihad, Casemiro (left) came on for the final half-hour but has yet to make his presence felt, and Varane limped off with a minor ankle injury before the interval after a torrid first half. Erik ten Hag’s summer signings from old club Ajax, Lisandro Martinez and Antony, will probably make a difference but cost £55.3m and £82m respectively. It has pushed the club’s spending to well over £1billion since Ferguson retired as United try to re-establish themselves as the best team in England. Sunday was a painful reminder that they are still a long way short of being the best team in Manchester. Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Casemiro (left) are seen as gambles made by Manchester United Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility