He emerged from the dressing-room at Soldier Field with a swagger, and Rasmus Hojlund left with a clear message that he is not ready to give up on his Manchester United career if the club sign Benjamin Sesko.
‘Does anyone want to speak to me?’ said Hojlund as he approached the waiting media in Chicago, an ice pack still strapped to the back of his right leg.
Of course they did. Not only had Hojlund just scored the opening goal in United’s impressive 4-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series, he had provided a timely response to speculation that any deal for Sesko could spell the end for him at Old Trafford two years after arriving from Atalanta in a £72million deal.
Ruben Amorim admitted after the game in Chicago that he doesn’t know what the future holds for the 22-year-old at United. Have the club said anything to Hojlund?
‘Nothing so far,’ he replied. ‘I think the most important for me is just to keep working hard and stay focused and then obviously we’ll see what happens. I think my plan is very clear and that is for me to stay and fight for my spot whatever happens.
‘Competition is fine with me, it sharpens me. I’m more than ready. I’m feeling sharp so I’m welcoming everything that comes. I think it’s good with competition and it only sharpens the team.
Rasmus Hojlund addressed his future at Man United after their pre-season win against Bournemouth
Hojlund netted the opener after just eight minutes in Chicago as United cruised to a 4-1 win
‘I’m still very young. I think people forget that sometimes, I’m only 22. Obviously, not every striker is scoring 100 goals at the age of 22. But I’ve learned a lot, I think you can see in my game.
‘I’m starting to develop and become even better in the basics. Now it’s just about sharpening myself and I’ve done very well in the pre-season so far. I’m just focusing on continuing that.’
The Denmark international has scored 61 goals for club and country in his career so far. By comparison, Harry Kane had 53 at the same age.
Hojlund was only 20 when he joined United in August 2023. The transfer fee put big expectation on young shoulders, and there was an even bigger burden when he was asked to lead the attack from the start.
‘When I came, (Anthony) Martial was there as well,’ said Hojlund. ‘He had a lot of injuries, so I obviously had to take a lot of the game time. That’s just part of it. You’re not going to tell me that I shouldn’t be playing, because I want to play every game.
‘But I could have done with some help in terms of sharing the games a bit, especially in the beginning. I feel like I’ve matured a lot and I’m ready for what’s coming.’
Hojlund finished with a promising 16 goals in his first season. But that dwindled to 10 last term in a desperate United team enduring the club’s worst season in more than half a century.
‘Well, obviously it was a tough season on us all,’ admitted Hojlund. ‘I think I should have done better, I think everybody knows. But also it’s a team thing, that we’re going to be better now. I think we’ve shown now in these two (tour) games that we’re progressing in the right way and looking forward to what’s coming.
United have been linked with a move for £70million-rated RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko
And United boss Ruben Amorim admitted that he doesn’t know whether Hojlund will remain at the club
But the Denmark international insisted that he is determined to fight for his place at Old Trafford
‘We played a lot of games last year so it was hard for me to implement anything into the game for me, especially training on the pitch. So it’s been a lot of videos, especially with my movement in the box, and also the timing of my runs has been very important.
‘Strikers always want to score goals. It’s very important for me. I think after last season it’s been a bit rough and I’ve tried to sharpen myself over the course of the holidays and I feel very, very good.
‘I try to be better every day. I try to work on my game. I’m learning a lot and starting to become better and better.’
Hojlund has sought advice from former United striker Louis Saha and a fellow Dane who knows a thing or two about succeeding at Old Trafford.
‘I’ve spoken a bit with Peter Schmeichel, of course. He’s done very well and helped me a lot. He often comes up in the camp where we are in the national team, and I speak with him there because obviously his son (Kasper) is playing in the national team as well.’
And then there’s his Denmark teammate Patrick Dorgu, who joined United in January. Dorgu crossed for Hojlund to head United in front against Bournemouth before scoring the second himself.
‘We have a very good relationship,’ said Hojlund. ‘There’s only one year between us and we have a lot of common friends. We come from the same sort of area in Denmark as well and we’re really starting to bond.
‘Obviously I also had a very, very good bond with Christian (Eriksen) and Victor (Lindelof), but there’s a bit of an age gap. It becomes like big brother and little brother, whereas me and Patrick seem more equal in terms of age as well.’
There was just one more issue to clear up. Was Hojlund claiming United’s third goal as well after Amad Diallo’s shot seemed to touch him on the way in?
‘Yes, I am. It’s definitely mine. It’s my goal,’ he insisted. ‘The ball touched my shin so I’m going to definitely claim that one. I can’t help it. It’s not my fault he shot it against my leg.’
