Scott McTominay. Antony. Marcus Rashford. Players leave Manchester United and tend to improve.
While some are adamant Old Trafford isn’t a graveyard for footballers, the evidence is compelling. Just look at Rasmus Hojlund’s performances since leaving Man Utd as another example.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Hojlund moved to Manchester in 2023 with a burgeoning reputation. While he didn’t quite light up Serie A, the Dane showed glimpses of his class with Atalanta. In fact, Man Utd saw enough to pull the trigger on a £64m move for the forward.
The Red Devils were in a predicament on the frontline when Hojlund arrived. They had opted against making Wout Weghorst’s loan move permanent, leaving them short of forward options. While perhaps not out of desperation, fact is Man Utd needed a striker. And with experience as the lone frontman, Hojlund, in theory, fit the bill. There were understandable teething issues yet the youngster still netted 10 league goals in his debut season at Old Trafford.
Hojlund’s struggles last season
Many understandably expected more from Hojlund in his second season yet he struggled. Of course, he wasn’t the only one to falter. Man Utd’s decision to fire Erik ten Hag and hire Ruben Amorim last November didn’t help matters. Out went the Dutchman’s 4-2-3-1 and in came the 3-4-2-1 setup. Again, it wasn’t a system that was alien to Hojlund. However, it just didn’t work out for the forward under Amorim.
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Not that Hojlund wasn’t willing to try to resurrect his Man Utd career. It wasn’t until Benjamin Sesko effectively signed that the former opted to leave for Napoli. The Italian side are reaping the rewards as they acquire Man Utd outcasts. McTominay was a driving force behind their Scudetto triumph last season, while Romelu Lukaku was their top scorer with 14 goals.
The Belgian’s thigh injury in September paved the way for Hojlund to make an immediate impact, and he’s done just that. He no longer looks the striker devoid of confidence from his second Man Utd season. Having been handed the number nine shirt upon his Man Utd arrival, the expectations weighed heavily on Hojlund shoulders.
System change aiding the Dane
Now, he looks far more comfortable in his surroundings in Napoli. He’s helped not only by being out of the spotlight, but playing in a different setup. While Hojlund looked a better fit in Ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1, he struggled in Amorim’s three-at-the-back setup. Napoli boss Antonio Conte has favoured a 4-1-4-1 system this season, meaning the creative players are pushed close to Hojlund. With a sitting six – nominally Stanislav Lobotka – the likes of McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne and Matteo Politano have license to provide greater support to the Denmark international.
Rasmus Hojlund 25-26 (Purple) vs Rasmus Hojlund 24-25 (Green)
While a small sample size, it’s coincided with a rise in goals per 90 minutes (from 0.2 to 0.6) and shots on target per 90 (from 0.6 to 0.9) between last season with Man Utd and his debut campaign at Napoli. Hojlund insists a formation change has nothing to do with his form – “I don’t care about the formation,” he said earlier this month – but a different setup is evidently having a positive impact.
Furthermore, he’s also playing under a more competent manager in Conte. While Amorim persists with a system not suited to the players, Conte has implemented a formation that benefits the Napoli squad. “Conte is a top coach,” Hojlund stated recently, with the Italian – when the mood suits – capable of bringing out the best in his players. It’s no surprise that Napoli lead Serie A after six matches.
Striker options gives Conte food for thought
And once Lukaku returns to fitness, Conte will have more options with which to work. This is key as Napoli look to defend their Serie A crown, particularly as they will come up against pragmatic defences over the course of the campaign. However, Hojlund has experience operating in a strike partnership as his Denmark showings prove.
Head coach Brian Riemer may favour a lone striker yet used a 4-4-2 in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Greece. Riemer started Hojlund alongside teenager Victor Froholdt in the victory, with the former finding the breakthrough early on. Hojlund’s early strike means he’s now scored on his last four outings for club and country. Conte currently prefers a single forward to lead the charge yet the on-loan star’s success in a two-man strike partnership gives him food for thought.
To put it simply, though, Hojlund has rediscovered his confidence away from the Premier League’s glare. The pressure is immediate for any player at Man Utd, more so during the worst period in their modern history. What’s more, Conte’s decision to deploy more support for Hojlund than Amorim last season means the 22-year-old is thriving.
Hojlund showed plenty of promise for Atalanta prior to his Man Utd switch. It’s early days for Napoli but he looks more like the forward that shone in Bergamo in a more settled environment. In the long run, Man Utd’s loss could very much prove Napoli’s gain.