Rasmus Hojlund Smashes Man Utd Record in Under 1,000 Minutes of Action

Within merely 928 Serie A minutes, Rasmus Højlund has already exceeded his goal count from the complete 2024–25 Premier League season with Manchester United, continuing his impressive streak with a double strike for Napoli on Sunday.

Fortune has been favoring Højlund recently—sometimes quite literally. The Danish forward saw the ball fall perfectly to his feet twice during the opening half of Napoli's away match against Cremona this weekend, setting up ideally for two immediate finishes that sealed his team's third consecutive win.

Højlund now has six goals in 12 Serie A matches this season, versus four in 32 Premier League outings for United. Following a lengthy summer departure from Old Trafford—which remains a loan arrangement that only becomes permanent should Napoli secure Champions League qualification—the 22-year-old netted just 14 minutes into his first appearance for the current Italian champions.

Højlund's Transformed Form

The season hasn't been without challenges—Højlund endured eight matches and nearly two months without scoring during autumn—yet there's been an overall sense of renewed energy in the revitalized forward.

While Højlund's shot frequency and ball involvement in dangerous areas hasn't changed dramatically—midfielder Scott McTominay has attempted double the shots of his former Manchester United colleague this season—the caliber of these chances has significantly improved, as shown by his nearly doubled expected goals (xG) rate.

Rather than simply blaming Manchester United's struggles, Højlund's revival is primarily attributed to Antonio Conte's tactical brilliance.

Conte: 'Dominant' Hojlund Still Has Room for Improvement

Conte's unique tactical approach requires a very particular set of abilities from his striker. Functioning essentially as an offensive pivot point, around which the entire attack rotates, his No. 9s consistently play a vital role in early possession buildup, drawing opponents into pressing situations before surging forward through calculated transitions. Højlund's combination of power and pace perfectly suits these requirements.

"He integrates exceptionally well with the squad," Conte praised following Højlund's recent double. "In my football philosophy, strikers hold a crucial and distinctive position in our overall strategy, and he possesses enormous potential for continued growth."

This constant pursuit of excellence was emphasized by the demanding Napoli manager.

"Højlund remains a very young player at just 22 years old, with tremendous room for development," Conte insisted. "From his arrival, he has already evolved into a commanding presence in that position, as he's beginning to grasp proper positioning, ball protection techniques, and timing for movement forward or backward."

If Højlund continues meeting Conte's high expectations and advancing his skills, few Manchester United records will remain intact by season's end.