Rasmus Hojlund was allowed to leave Manchester United on loan this summer after a difficult second season at the club, and the Denmark star's family have spoken out after his impressive start at Napoli
14:53, 15 Oct 2025
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 30: Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League Summer Series match between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth at Soldier Field on July 30, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves - Premier League/Getty Images for Premier League)
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Rasmus Hojlund left Manchester United to join Napoli on loan(Image: Michael Reaves - Premier League, Getty Images for Premier League)
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund and his family harbour no resentment towards the club despite the way his Old Trafford stint was brought to an abrupt end, two years after his £72million move.
The Danish forward arrived at the Reds in 2023 and following a promising debut season at Old Trafford, netting 16 goals, Hojlund's form declined in his second campaign as Ruben Amorim took charge in Manchester.
He managed only four Premier League strikes, and with mounting pressure on the 22-year-old, Amorim concluded this summer that the striker would be better served plying his trade elsewhere than at the Theatre of Dreams.
A temporary move to Napoli was arranged, with a reported £43m option to buy clause, and since departing United, Hojlund has found the net four times in six outings for the Italian champions, whilst also bagging another four goals for Denmark.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Christian Mouroux - a family friend of Hojlund's and current sporting director at HUI Football, the striker's boyhood club in Denmark - revealed why there was astonishment when he was immediately handed the crucial responsibility of spearheading United's attack.
NAPLES, ITALY - OCTOBER 05: Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli celebrates his goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Genoa CFC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 05, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
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Hojlund has found his feet since returning to Serie A(Image: Image Photo Agency, Getty Images)
"I think Rasmus didn't expect to be the main striker when United first showed interest in him," Mouroux revealed. "I think he would have been fine as an intern for the main striker position for the first year or two.
"However, this status somehow changed during the recruitment process, and he became the main guy for United overnight. I think he took that challenge head on and with the type of confidence of, okay, well if that is what United thinks of me then let me try and be that from the beginning.
"He was perhaps a little too young [for United]. Rasmus' abilities fit very, very well to the Premier League and English football so I think it was a good signing, it was well scouted and I think Rasmus proved both before he came to United and also now as he left for Napoli that he has strong abilities as a powerful No.9 and he can score goals."
Whilst there may have been some bewilderment as to why Hojlund suddenly became first choice at Old Trafford, Mouroux was eager to emphasise that there was never any ill feeling towards United from the family. "I last saw him was at the beginning of his time at United and it was when he was scoring goals," he added.
"At that point he was very happy. I have chatted with his father on a few occasions since then, also during the more difficult period at United.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 03: Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United warms up during the Premier League Summer Series match between Manchester United and Everton FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 03, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox - Premier League/Getty Images)
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The Dane failed to impress Ruben Amorim(Image: Kevin C. Cox - Premier League, Getty Images)
"And I must say I think this family is extraordinary in every sense of the word when it comes to professionalism. They keep their nose on track and even during the difficult times, they are focused on what they can do to improve.
"I've never been in dialogue with the family at any point where they felt particularly frustrated. They were more constructive around wanting to be a success with and for United."
Hojlund's loan move to Napoli has seen a resurgence in his career, with goals coming much more frequently. Mouroux believes this is largely due to the change of scenery in Naples.
"When you come from a team that isn't living up to expectations, it will take a toll on a player's confidence and it takes a toll on how you interact within the team," he said. "So it takes a lot of effort to try and break that cycle.
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"It is just the fact that he has come into a different environment, a breath of fresh air, new ideas, a new team that has been successful and he has managed to go with that flow. He also comes in with more experience after two years at United, he is a better player now.
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"He also came from the Italian league so he knows what it is about and he has McTominay who comes from the same environment as him so he can help with the on-boarding. I just think he is in a really good environment for him.
"I think it was the right decision for him to go, and his performances show that."