Manchester United would love a striker like Ruud van Nistelrooy right now.
The Dutchman is among the best among the top-quality centre-forwards to have donned the famous red over the years.
Ruud van Nistelrooy joined from PSV Eindhoven in 2001 and was an instant superstar scoring 36 goals in his opening campaign, a goal record up there with the modern greats at Old Trafford such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.
With a goal record of 150 goals in 219 games for Manchester United, the former assistant manager ranks among the greatest and dominated the Premier League for years.
Ruud van Nistelrooy standing in Manchester United’s top scorer charts
Rank Player Games Goals
8th Mark Hughes 459 161
9th Paul Scoles 716 155
10th Van Nistelrooy 219 150
11th Cristiano Ronaldo 346 145
12th David Herd 261 144
One player Van Nistelrooy played a serious role alongside was Paul Scholes, with the pair combining for 16 goals in 165 games together.
Now, it is worth recalling that Scholes thought United had found the next Van Nistelrooy in 2023… how wrong he was.
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Paul Scholes thought Rasmus Hojlund was the new Ruud van Nistelrooy
Finding a world-class number nine is not an easy feat and United have spent the past decade or longer searching for a long-term solution.
Erik ten Hag was convinced that Rasmus Hojlund was that player, and early signs convinced Scholes to also believe in the Danish international.
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Speaking on TNT Sports after United’s 2023 Champions League group stage loss to Galatasaray – in which Hojlund scored a brace – Scholes admitted he saw shades of Van Nistelrooy in the then 20-year-old striker
“I think I saw enough tonight in a team that excited me: Hojlund, especially them two goals.
“He took the two goals brilliantly. I absolutely loved the second goal, he gave the centre-half no chance, a clean pair of heels and his finish – a composed finish. We also had a goal that got disallowed.
“And I thought, ‘Wow there’s a bit of Van Nistelrooy in there.”
This was a bold statement from Scholes at the time, and now we know he could not have been more wrong.
How many goals has Rasmus Hojlund scored for Manchester United?
Since arriving at the club in 2023, Hojlund has played 80 games, while only scoring 23. The vast majority of these goals came in a period of January and February 2024.
Rasmus Hojlund for Manchester United
Club Games Goals Assists
Manchester United 80 23 3
Due to Hojlund underperforming this billing by Scholes by such a margin, United are in the market for a top-class striker this summer.
Hojlund has now gone 19 games without a goal, which is an absolutely torrid run which has seen 17-year-old Chido Obi look far more dangerous leading the attack than his senior compatriot.
With just 34 goals scored this season, United need a striker like Van Nistelrooy in the summer to fire in the goals and be the player Scholes thought Hojlund could be.
Victor Osimhen would be that, as would Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon.
So the template is there for Ineos, let’s hope the next striker to enter the doors at Old Trafford can live up to and replicate the impact of the great Van Nistelrooy.