There is an obvious risk involved in tasking a relatively raw 20-year-old with the chief responsibility for Manchester United’s goalscoring. Christian Eriksen had privately discussed with Rasmus Hojlund that the forward now enters a whole new sphere of attention, expectation, pressure, and noise as the club’s new signing. Nothing he has experienced in football so far could prepare him for this stage.
Not only is he the focal point for a team, one of the very biggest in the world, that has ambitions of becoming title challengers again, but Hojlund is also an expensive one. The agreement to recruit him from Atalanta has cost United an initial £64m, plus £8m in add-ons. But the club believes that Erik ten Hag’s coaching and big-picture view can prove that the fee is a steal in the long term. The manager has mentioned his “United project” in interviews with Sky Sports News, and Hojlund fits the mold of meeting a current need while building for the future.
It is not by accident that he represents a departure from the late-career forwards United has tended to sign in recent times. While it is undeniable that Harry Kane would have made the club instantly stronger and more serious, negotiating with Daniel Levy proved to be fruitless. Hojlund is young, but the manager perceives a sense of certainty and depth in his personality that sets him apart as an achiever. Ten Hag believes that, like Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, and Andre Onana, his newest recruit possesses the type of strong character needed to succeed at United.
Hojlund excels at making runs in behind, pressing well, being positionally astute, and physically imposing. He is direct and aggressive in the final third, which is something the club has lacked. His speed, ability to create space for himself, and aerial advantage will offer United a different dynamic. The club believes that because Hojlund has already played in and adjusted to three different leagues at a young age, he enjoys the challenge of mastering new surroundings. United is prepared to be patient with their developing striker, but the rest of the world may not be as tolerant, as Eriksen warned him. However, Hojlund is confident in himself, which is a crucial factor in him being a Ten Hag signing.
Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen shared his thoughts on potential new signing Rasmus Hojlund and goalkeeper Andre Onana. Eriksen described Hojlund as a strong No 9 who has developed a lot in the past year. He also mentioned that Hojlund may have gone under the radar for many people due to not receiving enough media attention in Denmark. However, Eriksen believes that Hojlund is a nice guy and a good player who fitted in well at Atalanta.
Sky Sports’ football feature writer Adam Bate analyzed Hojlund’s potential and highlighted his ability to make penetrative runs in behind the opposition defense. He also mentioned that Hojlund possesses speed, physique, and a willingness to work hard against the ball, which made him a valuable addition to Sturm Graz’s team. Bate emphasized the need for patience in Hojlund’s development, but recognized that he has shown progress at Sturm Graz and Atalanta. The next step in his career will be crucial for his growth as a player.
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