Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has urged Ruben Amorim to make an unexpected decision that could potentially get the best out of Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund on his way out of United
Hojlund’s time at United appears to be up, with an exit now firmly on the cards. He has endured a difficult spell since joining United from Atalanta in the summer of 2023.
He netted 16 goals across all competitions in his first season but only managed 10 last term, with just four coming in the Premier League.
But Hojlund’s struggles extend well beyond his poor numbers. So far at United, he has even found it difficult to grasp the basics of leading the line including holding up the ball, linking up play and making clever moments.
Patience in him is wearing thin and United are believed to be open to offloading him and cutting their losses. Benjamin Sesko’s arrival from RB Leipzig has cast further doubts over Hojlund’s role in the team.
At the moment, AC Milan are the leading candidates to snap up the 22-year-old. A loan agreement between the Serie A giants and United is close to being finalised. Milan will pay an initial loan fee and retain the option to sign Hojlund permanently at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
The forward has yet to give his approval. However, if it becomes clear he has no future at United, he could be forced into accepting an exit. It was noticeable that he was completely snubbed during the pre-season clash against Fiorentina and didn’t even come off the bench.
All signs point to the likelihood that United and Amorim have made up their minds to let Hojlund go but Berbatov has called for a different approach.
Berbatov on Hojlund and United’s striker situation
Berbatov told The Mirror, “I am excited with him going to United, but at the same time I am a bit cautious because [Joshua] Zirkzee and Hojlund were performing great in their previous clubs.”
“I watched how they moved, how they bullied defenders, how they scored goals, but then going to the Premier League, they found it difficult to adjust. And the stats speak for themselves, right? Three goals, four goals, for a striker you are going to be disappointed with yourself.”
“So it’s not easy, and is it the speed? Is it the new team? Is it the new environment? Is it most of the time the expectation people put on you because when you are number nine of United, you need to score goals, you need to perform, this is your job, this is your job description.”
“Of course, there is so much more to being number nine. Dropping down deep, getting the ball, then releasing your team-mates. Running of course, defending when you need to defend, release the spaces for the other team-mates.”
“It’s a lot more to [being a] number nine these days, but ultimately it’s about the goals you score.”
The Bulgarian continued, “It was difficult campaign for them and it’s a difficult period that they are going through, and now with another striker coming in, of course the competition is going to be high. When you buy a striker now you start to think, ‘Well am I going to play? Is my place in United? Am I still belonging here? Do I need to start looking for a club?”
“Or maybe then you start thinking, ‘Alright, I like the competition. Now I’m going to show you. Now I’m going to fight for my place. Now I’m going to bring the fire.’ So it’s a two-way scenario. You choose the one I said or the other. So let’s see what they are going to bring to the table as well.”
On Hojlund, suggested it could be better to show the striker there is still faith in him and hope he thrives off it. This would almost certainly entail Amorim blocking Hojlund’s exit.
“You always want the competition, but at the same time, as a striker, because we think we’re special, you need to feel welcome and wanted in the team, by the coach, by everybody. Then your motivation is going to be higher and your self-esteem is going to be higher. It’s a lot of factors. It’s not easy, but it’s all in the head.”
United are back in action next Sunday when they kickstart their Premier League season with a home match against Arsenal.
Featured image Patrick McDermott via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
