Danish media have made a huge statement about Rasmus Hojlund following his latest international performance, as Denmark navigated a successful week with a 6-0 rout of Belarus and a 3-1 win over Greece. The former Manchester United outcast has taken a major step toward redeeming his time at Old Trafford after sealing a summer move to Napoli.
Leaving Man United in search of a fresh start has paid off for several players in recent years, and Hojlund appears to be the latest example. With the Red Devils spending over £200 million to rebuild their attack - bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko - it was only a matter of time before the Dane, who netted 10 Premier League goals in his first season but no more than four across the next two, looked elsewhere for opportunities.
The 22-year-old joined Antonio Conte’s side on loan with an obligation to buy for £45 million, hoping to follow in the footsteps of teammate Scott McTominay, who won Serie A Player of the Year in his debut season under the former Chelsea manager. And true to the growing belief that the problem lies with United rather than the players they let go, Hojlund’s resurgence continues. His confidence, already visible at club level with four goals in six matches, is now shining through in international football.
Rasmus Hojlund Denmark
After another goal for Denmark on Sunday night, making it three in two outings for this international break and four across as many World Cup qualifiers, the Danish press made a loud and clear “bombing fire back in his eyes” point about the striker. Right now, Hojlund is one of the most in-form players in all of Europe.
Hojlund admitted to playing on instinct after the game, something that he lacked at United because he was too conscious about the weight of expectations. It's that predatory attacking style that has seen him go from strength to strength since turning his back on the Theatre of Dreams.
DR wrote that Hojlund looked like a “washed-up version of himself” during his two years at Manchester United, but that he has now “bombed fire back in his eyes” since joining Napoli.
In another piece, the same outlet highlighted his renewed confidence and growing stature, noting how the striker was “in charge” of the celebrations as he taunted the Greek fans after scoring. Tipsbladet rated him 4/5, writing:
“He has probably never been better than he is right now. A gigantic contrast to the international matches in June, where he struggled with it. Right now, Rasmus Hojlund is red-hot and full of self-confidence. Was ice-cold when he was given a huge gift by the Greeks.”
The outlet also quoted Christian Norgaard, who said Hojlund is in “full force” at the moment, putting everything into his game. Meanwhile, Campo praised Hojlund’s anticipation for his goal, writing that he “sniffed out” a Greek pass before slotting it home confidently to put the game beyond doubt.
It’s incredible what confidence can do for a player. While the form the Dane showed at Atalanta - which first caught Manchester United’s eye in 2022 - was impressive, he has never looked better than he does now at Napoli, who seem to have found the key to his redemption. The grass may not always be greener on the other side, but for United outcasts, that's more often than not the case.