Latest Manchester United news following Rasmus Hojlund’s move to Napoli
Rasmus Hojlund signed for Napoli on Monday(Image: Getty Images)
Rasmus Hojlund ‘considers himself better’ than Manchester United summer signing Benjamin Sesko after making the season-long loan move to Napoli on Monday, it has been claimed.
Hojlund, 22, has signed for Antonio Conte’s side on loan with an obligation to buy – understood to be £38million – at the end of the campaign. As well as that, United are set to receive a £5.2m loan fee.
The Denmark international moved to United for an initial £62m plus add-ons in August 2023 from Atalanta. He showed glimpses during his debut season at Old Trafford, scoring 16 times in 43 appearances.
However, Hojlund’s form nosedived last term. Indeed, the forward went, at one point, 21 matches without a goal before ending that barren run with a strike against relegation-bound Leicester City back in March.
He ended his second season in Manchester with just 10 goals in 52 matches and it was clear that Ruben Amorim didn’t view him as his long-term No.9. Joshua Zirkzee was even preferred, at times, last campaign.
There had been talk earlier this summer that United were prepared to offload Hojlund but the player wanted to remain at the Reds and fight for his place because he felt he is better than incoming signing Sesko.
According to The Athletic, a reason behind Hojlund’s desire to stay at United was that he believed he is superior to Sesko, who made the £66m plus add-ons move to the Reds from RB Leipzig last month. He felt showing that in sessions might give Amorim pause for thought on his departure, despite Sesko’s arrival.
The potential end for Hojlund at United has left him ‘heartbroken’ over the realisation that his dream in Manchester was over after just two years, especially when he expected to continue at the start of pre-season.
Speaking in July, Hojlund said: “My plan is very clear. That is for me to stay and fight for my spot, whatever happens. Competition is fine with me. It sharpens me.
“I’m more than ready. I’m feeling sharp so I welcome everything that comes.”
Hojlund added: “When I came, [Anthony] Martial was there as well but he had a lot of injuries, so I obviously had to take a lot of the game time. You’re not going to tell me I shouldn’t be playing because I want to play every game. But obviously I could have done with some help in terms of sharing the games a bit, especially in the beginning.”
However, United have had other ideas and decided to offload him on loan with the deal expected to become permanent next summer, should the formalities be met.
Hojlund, who didn’t feature for the Reds once during their first four competitive matches, could make his Napoli debut when they travel to Fiorentina on Saturday, September 13.
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