OPINION: Rasmus Hojlund was supposed to be one of the problems at Manchester United - but nothing could be further from the truth as he's making a mug of Ruben Amorim
08:01, 16 Oct 2025
Rasmus Hojlund
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Rasmus Hojlund is flying with Napoli and is the latest Manchester United outcast to shine after leaving Old Trafford(Image: Domenico Cippitelli/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
For more than two seasons Rasmus Hojlund was considered the problem at Manchester United.
A footballer who couldn't handle the pressure of succeeding on one of the biggest stages. Someone who became a public figure of fun.
Forget being a great Dane, Hojlund became known as 'Rasmiss', due to his glaring failure in front of goal. A striker who cost United a staggering £64m, and the bloke who helped recruit him his job at Old Trafford.
But in the space of a few short months, Hojlund has gone on to prove that perhaps it was Ruben Amorim's team and tactics which were to blame for him coming up so short in the red half of Manchester.
Just like his former team-mate Scott McTominay has done, Hojlund is now thriving in the new environment of Napoli. Which takes some doing, because Naples is not the place for the feint hearted.
Rasmus Hojlund reacts during a game
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Rasmus Hojlund failed to make a mark with Manchester United(Image: PA)
The club's supporters once had the privilege of seeing a certain Diego Maradona grace the club's famous blue shirt. And he made such an impression, Napoli named their stadium after him.
The standards expected there are high. They are also the reigning Italian champions. But in just six games, Hojlund has scored four goals already.
He also scored one in Denmark's win over Greece last weekend. The four goals for Napoli is the same as the number of Premier League goals he managed for United in the whole of last season.
Perhaps Hojlund is getting better service. Perhaps he understands how his new team works. Maybe he is being coached better.
Or it could be just down to the fact he has Kevin De Bruyne creating from midfield, instead of Manuel Ugarte or Casemiro.
Who knows? But one thing that's obvious is that Hojlund's improvement on the Amalfi coast is embarrassing for United.
Not least because his replacement, Benjamin Sesko, couldn't hit the proverbial barn door with a banjo. And he cost even more than Hojlund did.
Ruben Amorim couldn't get the best out of Rasmus Hojlund at Manchester United
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Ruben Amorim couldn't get the best out of Rasmus Hojlund at Manchester United(Image: Matt McNulty, Getty Images)
Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox have been tasked with overhauling Manchester United's squad
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Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox have been tasked with overhauling Manchester United's squad(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA, Getty Images)
United's decision making when it comes to recruitment continues to be shambolic. Too many cooks seem to be spoiling the broth.
Dan Ashworth came and went in six months. But the likes of Omar Berrada (CEO), Jason Wilcox (director of football) and Christopher Vivell (head of scouting) continue to be involved in the decisions that matter.
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And that's before the likes of Amorim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have got involved. Different people with different agendas.
Which might explain why an unsuccessful football team continues to fail in such an unstable environment.