Manchester United have always trusted in youth – but they’ve failed one of their youngest talents in Rasmus Hojlund with their actions.
Manchester United faced Arsenal on Sunday, and despite the loss, they could be pleased with the performance. Much of that was down to their two new men, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, who impressed the fans.
Benjamin Sesko also got minutes, giving the Old Trafford faithful their first glimpse of the Slovenian striker who is expected to lead the line this season.
Benjamin Sesko during a Premier League clash between Manchester United and Arsenal
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
That’s especially significant given recent news on Rasmus Hojlund, who looks set to leave Manchester United this summer.
Rasmus Hojlund to leave Manchester United
The story between Manchester United and Hojlund now seems “over”… but where did it all go wrong?
🚨 Rasmus Højlund and Manchester United, it’s definitely over.
Højlund won’t be part of Man United squad against Arsenal as club sends clear message pushing for his exit.
United open to permanent and also loan deal, Højlund will assess his options — follows @lauriewhitwell. pic.twitter.com/uVhIzXB4Ai
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 17, 2025
View Tweet
Hojlund joined Manchester United in August 2023, transferring from Atalanta for an initial £64 million, with an additional £8 million in potential add-ons.
At Atalanta, Hojlund was widely regarded as one of Europe’s hottest young prospects, even drawing comparisons to Erling Haaland of Manchester City.
The Dane had the world at his feet, and as a United supporter, the move seemed like a match made in heaven, both for the individual and the club.
And the first season gave United fans a glimpse of his goalscoring talents. He made 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring 16 goals and providing two assists – a stellar debut season for a 20-year-old.
Competition Appearances Goals Assists
Premier League 30 10 1
Champions League 6 5 1
FA Cup 4 1 0
Carabao Cup 3 0 0
Total 43 16 2
Second-season syndrome at Manchester United
But the second season is where things started going wrong. Hojlund scored 10 goals in 52 appearances. His all-around game looked different, and Hojlund looked incredibly short on confidence.
The constant media scrutiny didn’t help, and a run of poor performances led to his omission from the squad under Ruben Amorim.
And despite his best efforts, he’s never managed to turn it around.
Now, it looks like he is set to move elsewhere, with a return to Italy reportedly on the cards. That said, the club must take some of the blame.
Manchester United v ACF Fiorentina - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Manchester United’s incompetence at fault for Hojlund’s failure
Hojlund was never supposed to be Manchester United’s starting striker. Fans had hoped for a young striker to develop alongside a more experienced forward – someone like Harry Kane – but that never happened.
Instead, the pressure of leading the line at United fell squarely on the Danish lad’s shoulders. Brutal.
By the second season, United signed Joshua Zirkzee – an unconventional forward, not an out-and-out striker – again leaving Hojlund without the support he needed.
The reality is that Hojlund should never have been in this position. His misfortune at Manchester United is down to mistakes from the hierarchy, but because he was the man on the pitch, he received the backlash.
It’s a cruel case of too much, too soon, and you can’t help but feel for him. The likelihood is he will thrive elsewhere – freed from the relentless pressure that is Manchester United. Good luck to him.