Manchester United ended a season to forget. The team finished 15th in the Premier League, their worst record in the history of the tournament, and ended the season with a bitter defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final. Without trophies, playing dull football and lacking ideas, the pressure on the bench has been constant, although Rubén Amorim seems set to remain in his position. Amid this chaos, several players have come under scrutiny, and Rasmus Hojlund has borne the brunt of much of the criticism. The young striker arrived with huge expectations and minimal results.
The Danish striker, who signed for the English club at just 20 years of age, failed to justify his multi-million pound transfer from Atalanta. Despite his inconsistency, Amorim had to field the 22-year-old in most games due to recurring injuries in the squad.
The lack of alternatives in attack kept him on the pitch more out of necessity than merit. Paul Ince, a former United player, recently commented on the striker’s case, suggesting that the situation and system has not favoured him and that his development has been affected by excessive responsibility at such a young age.
Rasmus Hojlund has flopped badly for Manchester United
> Speaking on talkSPORT (29 May), former United midfielder Ince revealed that he sympathises with the 22-year-old and believes more can be done to help his career, saying: “I feel sorry for Hojlund, because he’s not ready yet to play for Manchester United, he’s been thrown in the deep end. He needs that senior striker to take that weight off of him. I wouldn’t be adverse to him going on loan for six months, to score goals, find his feet, and get a bit of confidence. People don’t understand that when you play for Manchester United, it’s about the mentality and dealing with the expectations.”
There is no more room for waiting. Hojlund has not shown sufficient growth, and his constant presence in the line-up has detracted from the team more than it has added. A striker without confidence, without obvious resources and with decision-making that reflects immaturity cannot lead the attack of a club that still carries the historical demands of Ferguson.
His time at [Old Trafford](https://weallfollowunited.com/2025/05/31/newcastle-united-lead-manchester-united-in-the-transfer-race-for-bryan-mbeumo/#google_vignette) seems to have run out. Loan the striker out would be a logical option, but it would also be a clear admission of sporting and financial failure. Although many insist that his age offers room for growth, there are players who do not fit with the symbolic weight of a badge like United’s.
But from another perspective, the fault is not entirely his. The club signed a talented player without moulding him or surrounding him with figures who could protect him. They exposed him to a toxic environment, without tactical balance or emotional guidance. In that context, asking the Danish striker to perform at the level of a star was a foregone conclusion. Easy criticism points to the player, but the root of the problem remains institutional.