Manchester United’s decision to get rid of Rasmus Hojlund in the summer transfer window looks better and better with each passing week, with the Napoli striker struggling yet again, but Marcus Rashford is going from strength to strength at Barcelona.
Following the signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window, Man Utd cut ties with Hojlund and sent him out on loan to Napoli. Last season’s Serie A champions have an obligation to make the deal permanent for £38million (€43.7m, $51.5m) next summer.
Hojlund did not initially want to leave Man Utd and wanted to fight for his place in manager Amorim’s starting line-up, but he was eventually convinced to go, as the Red Devils have had enough of the Denmark international striker.
During his time at Man Utd, Hojlund scored only 26 goals and registered just six assists in 95 appearances, and the Old Trafford bosses felt that there was no way that the striker would succeed at the club.
Hojlund made an immediate impact at Napoli, scoring on his debut for the defending Italian champions in a 3-1 win against Fiorentina away from home at Stadio Artemio Franchi in Serie A.
However, goals have dried up since, with Hojlund branded ‘a ghost’ by the Italian media in Napoli’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League.
Napoli suffered a 2-1 defeat to AC Milan at San Siro in Serie A on Sunday, with Hojlund yet again failing to make a positive impact.
The 22-year-old Denmark international led the line for Antonio Conte’s side in a 4-1-4-1 formation and was taken off in the 73rd minute after failing to take a single shot and managing only 16 touches of the ball, according to WhoScored, leading the Napoli press to voice their frustration.
Il Mattino gave Hojlund 5 out of 10 and noted: “Too little, maybe even less. Gabbia keeps him consistently: shy and almost fearful, he never sinks his teeth into the Rossoneri’s flesh and slips into the game like fresh water.”
TuttoNapoli also gave the striker 5 and 10 and observed: “The former United player makes a lot of poor passes and misreads the ball, making very little impact on the game.”
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Marcus Rashford involved in Barcelona win in LaLiga
While Hojlund is struggling in Italy, Marcus Rashford is flourishing at Barcelona.
Rashford joined Barcelona on a season-long loan deal from United in the summer of 2025.
TEAMtalk understands that Barcelona have the option to make Rashford’s loan deal permanent for £26million (€30m, $35.1m) next summer, but while the defending Spanish champions have been impressed with the forward, they will not make a final decision until they see that he does well on a consistent basis.
Rashford starred for Barcelona in their 2-1 win against Newcastle United at St James’ Park in the Champions League, with the England forward scoring both goals.
The Man Utd-owned forward played a starring role for Barca on Sunday, too, as Hansi Flick’s side beat Real Sociedad 2-1 at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys to go top of LaLiga.
Rashford started on the left wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation and provided the assist for Jules Kounde’s goal in the 43rd minute.
By the time Rashford went off in the 78h minute, he had taken six shots of which two were on target, and had played two key passes, according to WhoScored.
During his time on the pitch, the Man Utd-owned forward had a pass accuracy of 77.1%, took 62 touches, completed two dribbles, and made one clearance.
Rashford also put in six crosses for Barcelona against Sociedad, but only one of them was accurate.
Mundo Deportivo described Rashford as ‘dangerous’ and noted: ‘Initially, he was the one who tried the most on the left, where he constantly overflowed.
‘He also had a very good opportunity that Remiro took out with a great hand and ended up assisting Kounde from the corner.
‘After the break, he turned off and ended up being changed.’
Sport hailed Rashford as ‘an agitator’ and observed: ’The team looked for him and he asked for them all, looking for the one-on-one and putting balls into the area.
‘He always got something, although perhaps too many losses. Remiro avoided the goal in a hard shot from the Englishman. From more to less.’
Latest Man Utd news: Ruben Amorim replacement, Atletico Madrid raid
Meanwhile, the future of Ruben Amorim as the Man Utd manager is in doubt, as the Red Devils slumped to yet another defeat in the Premier League last weekend.
Man Utd have already identified a top replacement for Amorim, according to some reports, but co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe may want to wait until the end of the season to make a move for him.
For now, though, Man Utd are keeping faith in the Portuguese boss, with the club’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, making his stance on sacking Amorim clear.
Meanwhile, Man Utd are planning to raid Atletico Madrid for one of their best and most dynamic midfielders.
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