Manchester United confirmed shortly before Monday’s transfer deadline that Rasmus Hojlund had joined Napoli on loan for the campaign.
The Dane will spend 2025/2026 in Naples hoping to revive his most prolific goalscoring form under Antonio Conte. Then, upon the culmination of his temporary spell, it’s thought the club will be obliged to sign him permanently so long as they qualify for the Champions League.
Rasmus Hojlund: What happened this summer?
Hojlund had garnered interest from a host of suitors when it became clear United were looking to part ways this summer. Just weeks after he vocalised his desire to stay and fight for his spot at Old Trafford, he begrudgingly engaged in talks with AC Milan, with Ruben Amorim making it clear he would be playing a heavily reduced role in the presence of new recruit Benjamin Sesko.
Whilst negotiating with Milan, Napoli made an approach to instead bring the 22-year-old to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to fill in for Romelu Lukaku, who’d just sustained a thigh injury that would keep him sidelined for the opening months of the campaign. Attracted by the prospect of representing the Serie A champions over struggling Milan, Hojlund agreed to the move.
‘Heartbroken’ Hojlund eventually became resigned to Old Trafford exit
It’s now been revealed by The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell that the No.9 was closed off to a summer United exit for several reasons, one being that he ‘considers himself better’ than Sesko.
Inside Manchester United’s transfer window:
🔺 Debate over No 6 v No 9
🔺 £80m income towards “Project 90”
🔺 Internal talks on Welbeck offer
🔺 Hojlund’s heartbreak
🔺 Different styles Ratcliffe/Glazers
🔺 Onana injury shaped GK pursuitMore ⬇️ #MUFChttps://t.co/uiHnbinvRH
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) September 2, 2025
He had planned to try to reverse Amorim’s decision to offload him by impressing in training. At that point, though, it was too late, because his lacklustre form in 2024/2025 (four goals in 32 Premier League appearances) was enough to cement his impending departure. Hojlund was said to be left ‘heartbroken’ at the fact his long-awaited dream to represent the 20-time champions of England was being cut short prematurely – only two years into his five-year deal.
This will be same as McTominay: “ what were United thinking of to let such a good player go?”.
Hojlund may re-develop into a star but he was broken at Man Utd and couldn’t stay. That may not be all his fault, but football is a results-based business and, on those stellar salaries, there’s no room for charity.
He really needed to go somewhere where he could escape the brutal scrutiny of the PL, rebuild his confidence and return to form. Napoli seems like a decent choice.