Rasmus Hojlund Fires Back at Doubters, Unleashes Fierce Defence of His Man Utd Legacy

Rasmus Højlund serves as his own harshest judge—though many others have attempted to claim that role.

The 22-year-old never requested the constant comparisons to Erling Haaland—actually, he wanted the complete opposite. He didn't insist that his Manchester United transfer carry a staggering £72 million ($97.2 million) price tag, nor did he deliberately schedule his Old Trafford tenure during a period of collective struggle.

Nevertheless, he embraced these challenges and pushed ahead. As he was eager to emphasize, this mindset yielded positive results.

"There was significant attention and pressure, naturally," Højlund shares with Sports Illustrated while looking back on his major Premier League transfer. "But I felt it would be difficult to pass up that opportunity since I supported United. And I believe I performed admirably."

Højlund was merely 20 when he joined Manchester United in 2023 following just one season in Serie A with Atalanta. The FC Copenhagen academy graduate had spent only six months around the senior squad before being recruited to Austria by Sturm Graz. The rapid ascent from reserve player to United's primary striker was understandably characterized by the Danish forward as "somewhat dreamlike" at the time.

After having the opportunity to contemplate that turbulent period of his still-developing career, Napoli's current striker defended his choices. "One might suggest I required another year or so, but I believe it was the correct move for me," he states. "And as I mentioned, I think I excelled in my debut season, particularly becoming the leading scorer on the team and having a strong Champions League run, plus winning silverware with the squad."

An agonizingly sluggish beginning to Premier League life—Højlund wouldn't net his first league goal until Boxing Day—was offset by an impressive Champions League showing. During the 2023–24 group stage, nobody could match his record of five goals across six matches. Højlund also entered as a substitute in the second half of the 2024 FA Cup final, which United unexpectedly claimed against local rivals Manchester City.

"The pressure is intense and you gain experience from it," Højlund wisely observes. "You absorb that, store it away. And you simply learn from it, become more accustomed to it and develop alongside it."

Hojlund's First Season at Old Trafford

Statistics courtesy of FBref.

Love for Man Utd Persists

Højlund emphasizes his dedication to Napoli, the club that must activate a purchase option worth approximately £38 million if they secure Champions League qualification this season. However, he remains officially a Manchester United player and maintains fondness for those at Old Trafford.

"Essentially all of them are my friends," he explains. "So naturally I continue following them and hoping for their success whenever they compete."

Despite the substantial investment in a completely revamped attack during Højlund's absence, United haven't performed nearly as well as their former No. 9. The Danish striker has already exceeded his Premier League goal count from his final Old Trafford season and is leading Napoli's exciting Serie A title defense. United, in contrast, continue struggling with inconsistency exemplified by Šeško's adaptation difficulties.

Silencing Critics Begins Internally

Højlund constantly pursues personal growth—which proves beneficial under a demanding manager like Antonio Conte. Yet, he prioritizes meeting his own standards before addressing outside criticism.

"I believe proving yourself to yourself is most crucial," he explains, "because when you satisfy your own expectations, I think you demonstrate it to everyone else too, since I maintain very high personal standards.

"I prefer setting the bar high, as that maximizes your effort. If you achieve a target, say early in the campaign... you'd likely naturally relax. But if you concentrate on—I'm not suggesting the impossible—but attempting to reach nearly impossible heights..."

This pursuit of excellence transcends football. "It could involve goals or improving your complete game or mastering Italian or anything else," Højlund clarifies. "Simply concentrating on personal growth." Since departing United, the striker's development has been remarkable. However, as he noted, he possessed solid groundwork to expand upon.