Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund considers himself better than summer signing Benjamin Sesko, according to The Athletic journalist Laurie Whitwell.
The Red Devils recruited the Slovenian international from RB Leipzig in a €85 million deal, telling his Danish counterpart to leave.
Hojlund has joined Napoli on loan for the season, but the 22-year-old wanted to stay and prove himself to Man United head coach Ruben Amorim.
He was willing to remain at the Old Trafford club and show that he is better than Sesko, hoping that his performances in training sessions could convince the Portuguese to hold on to him.
The Denmark international could have played his last game for Man United as Napoli are paying a €6m loan fee and there is a €44m buy option that turns into an obligation if they qualify for the Champions League.
The club made it clear from the moment Sesko was signed that the services of Hojlund were no longer required, dropping him in the final game of the U.S. tour against Everton for Matheus Cunha up top.
He only got 18 minutes as a substitute and was unused in the next game against Fiorentina.
The Red Devils forward was omitted entirely from the matchday squad for the opening Premier League game of the season against Arsenal.
Hojlund was also left out of the trips to Fulham and Grimsby Town, and Man United got their wish in the end.
He joined the Red Devils from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 for an initial £64m, plus £8m in performance-related add-ons, signing a five-year contract with the option of an extra year.
His debut campaign produced 16 goals in 43 appearances, but his return of ten goals in 52 appearances last term (including four league goals) was enough to convince Man United they needed a new number 9.
It remains to be seen whether they have made the right decision as Sesko has yet to hit the ground running, with no goals or assists in four games, and Hojlund will be desperate to prove himself on his return to Italy.