Denmark’s manager threw stones at Manchester United for wasting Rasmus Hojlund’s talent after the youngster continued his good start to the season.
Hojlund struck twice for Denmark as they thrashed Belarus 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier, taking his tally for club and country to seven goals already this season.
The 22-year-old has been reinvigorated on loan at Napoli, thriving as an outcast just like Marcus Rashford and Antony have been.
Last season Hojlund managed just four Premier League goals, a tally he is already halfway to in Serie A, and has found new life being supplied by Kevin De Bruyne.
‘I think Rasmus has the quality for both leagues, without discussion,’ Denmark boss Brian Riemer told TipsBladet.
‘Does he fit in Italian football? Yes. There was no doubt about that, because he had already proven that. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fit in English football. On the contrary, I would almost say.
Manchester United failed to get the most out of Rasmus Hojlund, Denmark’s boss believes
The 22-year-old added two more goals to his tally for the season as Denmark beat Belarus 6-0
He has hit the ground running at Napoli, thriving like other Manchester United outcasts do
‘The fact that he is now on a well-functioning team and has players around him who take pride in doing good for others helps to make the outcome for a striker like Rasmus, who needs to be serviced.
‘It is more important than which league you play in.’
Hojlund’s Manchester United career could already be over.
He joined in the summer of 2023 and some eyebrows were raised at the £72million figure involved to bring him from Atalanta after he scored 10 goals in the previous season.
The youngster built on that in his first season at Old Trafford, bagging 16 in all competitions, but regressed to that minimum double figures total in his second campaign.
He may never kick a ball for the Red Devils again, as his loan at Napoli reportedly includes a £38m obligation to buy if they qualify for the Champions League, something which looks highly likely.
Ruben Amorim admitted last season that a lack of service had let down the 6ft3in star, saying in February: ‘It’s clear, as a team, we are not helping Rasmus. We don’t create a lot of chances.
‘Rasmus has a lot of potential. If we improve the way we play the game, he will have more opportunities to score. He came here very young and, when you are very young, to be the number nine and play all the time sometimes is hard.
Brian Riemer says Hojlund can fit in in the Premier League, but is better at a ‘well-functioning’ team like Napoli
‘We have to look as Rasmus as a player: he has the pace, he has the technique, he scores some goals that are really hard to score. Sometimes he doesn’t choose the better runs, sometimes he’s so anxious to touch the ball because there are long minutes without the ball and he moves away from the goal.
‘We address that in training. He has the ability – he already showed that here – but I think it’s more a team thing than a Rasmus thing.’
At Napoli, he is certainly getting the service thanks to being on the same team as Kevin De Bruyne.
The Belgian set him up twice against Sporign Lisbon in the Champions League, a sign of what could be a formidable partnership, with La Gazzetta dello Sport calling it a ‘perfect pairing’.
