Manchester United’s record in the transfer market since Sir Alex Ferguson retired isn’t the stuff of legends, to put it politely, but some still stick out more than others.
Antony’s exit to Real Betis on loan put an end (temporary, for now!) to an expensive mistake which arguably ended Erik ten Hag’s tenure.
However, at least in Antony’s case, there was an acceptance even at the time that United had overpaid for him which could age badly, and so it did.
The same can’t be said in another case when the club claimed that they had signed “one of the best players in the world” in his age group.
He’s living a nightmare right now.
Man Utd’s claim ageing terribly on star player
It is normal for a club to hype up its newest arrivals, be it through words or highlight packages, as getting the fans excited about the player is half the job toward getting him settled.
That is even more important at Old Trafford because the outside pressure is so intense, a player has to feel involved and backed within the club.
John Murtough probably thought that is what he was doing with his words when Manchester United announced the signing of Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund joined from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 for a fee that raised many eyebrows at the time but was still slightly understandable as United were effectively paying for potential.
That’s the message Murtough gave, only in extremely superlative terms.
He said at the time (via Man Utd website): “Rasmus is a truly exceptional talent. He possesses technical and physical attributes which rank him amongst the best players in the world for his age group.
“Everyone across the club will ensure that he is given the time and all the support required to reach his immense potential.”
Rasmus Hojlund’s Man Utd spell turning into a nightmare
When Hojlund arrived, it was with common understanding that he was far from the finished product and would need time and patience to thrive.
He showed those glimpses of potential in a tough first season where he went on goalscoring streaks and showed the anticipation and nous to be a killer in the box.
However, this season, it has all gone backward for Hojlund, both, in terms of goals/assists and for his general level of play as well.
| Season | Games | Goals | Minutes played |
| 2023/24 | 43 | 16 | 3,088 |
| 2024/25 | 28 | 7 | 1,586 |
Player development is never linear and peaks and troughs are a part and parcel of the game but what Hojlund is experiencing right now seems much more worrisome.
He looks like an isolated part while his ten teammates play on the pitch, rarely getting involved and spurning opportunities when they do arrive.
Ruben Amorim has backed Hojlund to turn it around with more training and praised his attitude which, to be fair, is half the battle to achieve success.
It’s just that patience is starting to wear thin. He wasn’t ready for the role to begin with but troublingly, he looks worse off now than when he joined the club.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
