Was Rasmus Hojlund ‘worried’ about £72m Man Utd transfer? Striker reflects on untimely injury that could have scuppered dream move

The highly-rated Denmark international became a top target for the Red Devils early in the summer window as they sought to bring another goalscorer onto their books. Atalanta were willing to do business, but Hojlund picked up a back problem that threatened to throw a spanner into the works.

A deal was eventually done, with the 20-year-old becoming a record-setting £72 million ($90m) addition at Old Trafford, but he was forced to wait 29 days after moving to England before making his Premier League debut off the bench in a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Quizzed by Bold on whether he feared a stress fracture would prevent him from linking up with the club that he supported as a boy, Hojlund said: “Well, there is not much else to say, other than that it was a small thing, and I have never really been able to feel any pain myself at any time. It was just something that had to be respected, and it has been done, so now it's just out of the way. Many things happened in those days. There was a lot to focus on, so it was a rollercoaster ride in many ways, but I wouldn't say that I was worried at any point.”

Hojlund is still working his way back to full fitness and has figured off the bench in both of Denmark’s games during the international break. He will be hoping to play a more prominent role for United when they return to action on Saturday in a home date with Brighton.