Unconvinced teammates and criticism from hierarchy were not the only reasons Rasmus Hojlund was destined to fail at Man United

Unconvinced teammates and criticism from hierarchy were not the only reasons Rasmus Hojlund was destined to fail at Man United

Rasmus Hojlund was destined to fail at Manchester United before a ball was kicked but his probable departure raises an issue in Ruben Amorim's squad.

Hojlund may not start the season with United

There was a slightly surreal interaction on North State Street in Chicago during Manchester United's pre-season tour. While walking back from a CVS pharmacy one evening, it soon became apparent I was gaining on a few United players out for an evening stroll.

‌

Harry Maguire was the most conspicuous. Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw were in front of him. Suddenly, there was a whistle and someone left behind jogged past me to catch up with the group: Rasmus Hojlund.

‌

Hojlund muttered something and then, awkwardly, Maguire started to slow down. He turned around.

‌

"All right, mate."

"All right, mate."

Possibly the three most oft-used words during interactions between British males. That was the sum of my 'night out' with United players.

Article continues below

Reading between the lines, Hojlund had clocked me and made his teammates aware. Fernandes and Shaw did not even break stride. Maguire was perfectly polite.

Hojlund was bound to recognise me as he once dedicated an Instagram post to me. Piqued by a story that some United players were reluctant to pass the ball to him, two days later he came on and scored the winner against Newcastle United and commemorated the moment on social media.

On the pitch, Hojlund opted for a 'shhh' celebration, pressing his index finger against his lips. He did not silence the doubters last season. Hojlund scraped three goals in his final 35 appearances of 2024-25 and United are now brazenly pushing him out when they were once so protective.

‌

United were angry (on Hojlund's behalf) over the aforementioned story. Another member of their communications department has never celebrated more wildly in a press box than when Hojlund ended his goal drought at Leicester in March.

Hojlund is not short of allies but he is now isolated. He started ball juggling during his warm up in the first half against Fiorentina on Saturday. That was a tell-tale sign he was never going to get on.

In Chicago, Ruben Amorim refused to give assurances that Hojlund, who performed decently on tour, would stay. A few minutes later, Hojlund strolled into the mixed zone and asked if anyone wanted to talk to him. It was not lighthearted.

‌

One club cannot house two £70m-odd strikers. Benjamin Sesko's fee is marginally more than Hojlund's two years ago. Both are overpriced but Sesko's value feels fairer, given his development and reputation. He has been on United's radar for at least three years, too.

United's director of recruitment Christopher Vivell (left) worked for the Red Bull group

Hojlund is an easy fall guy for the Ineos cabal. He was signed by the previous regime, Sir Jim Ratcliffe included him among the players that he had "inherited" and Hojlund's record is indefensible: 26 goals in 95 appearances.

‌

Admittedly, he started both seasons recovering from an injury. After he returned from a hamstring tear in September, Hojlund did not sustain another injury. Hojlund started 38 fixtures and his longest run on the bench was two games in 2024-25.

He was never good enough to lead the line for United and was always destined to fail. The final fee of £64m up front rising to £72m contradicted United's brief that they would not break £60m for their new centre forward.

Switching to the same agency that represented the manager heaped more pressure onto Hojlund. Erik ten Hag would have preferred Harry Kane but Ten Hag told confidants Hojlund had a "proven goalscoring profile". He didn't.

‌

Hojlund may have to clear out his new locker at Carrington soon

Then there was the support striker, Anthony Martial. If you literally leant on Martial for support, he would break something. The Frenchman was as durable as a collection of bamboo sticks and did not play once for United in his final five months at the club.

There were glimpses that Hojlund could be a long-term frontman. He unnerved William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes on his debut at Arsenal, plundered five goals in four Champions League starts and was the Premier League Player of the Month in February 2024 with five goals in four games. Hojlund was so pivotal that his muscular injury at the end of that month preceded United's home defeat to Fulham which ended their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

‌

United recorded a minus goal difference in the past two seasons. They had to bring in a new No.9. So Hojlund had to make way.

The noises from the hierarchy were unkind. One high-profile figure questioned Hojlund's work rate. The hesitancy to play the ball to Hojlund was never more public than when Diogo Dalot decided against crossing to him against Real Sociedad.

Hojlund scored twice against Bournemouth last month

‌

Marcus Rashford's cousin derided Hojlund's pressing and how often he lost challenges. Another senior teammate shook his head at United's striker options and sighed, "F*****g hell."

The direction of travel has been that Hojlund would end up travelling elsewhere. Yet, if or when he does, United do not have a senior striker to provide back up for Sesko.

Joshua Zirkzee, scorer of seven goals in 49 games, is not a No.9 and not an outright No.10. Football's pseudo-intellectuals might dub him a 'nine-and-a-half'. Ie. neither here nor there.

‌

Zirkzee has been injured for practically four months. He has not had a kick in pre-season and was rushed back from a hamstring injury for the Europa League final. That told everyone what Amorim thought of Hojlund.

United have a lighter work load this season and require a lighter squad. Chido Obi decamped to the first team in February but is only 17 and does not have a locker in the new Carrington dressing room yet. Instead, he is in the "halfway house" changing area reserved for emerging talent.

Amorim trialled Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount and Bryan Mbeumo through the middle in United's last two friendlies. He has auxiliary options.

Article continues below

However much longer Hojlund remains at United, he is likely to be left behind.

Click here to read article