Rasmus Hojlund: Why Man Utd have spent €85m on 'the Danish Erling Haaland'

Hojlund grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has always had football in his blood - with his father Anders having played as a professional in the Danish top flight. And Anders did his best to help Rasmus and his younger twin brothers, Emil and Oscar, tread a similar path.

Rasmus showed promise from a very early age, and started learning his trade at Horsholm-Usserod Idrætsforenin, before taking in spells in the academy ranks at both Brondby and Holbaek. His hometown club eventually came calling in 2017, and the talented forward made an instant impression for FC Copenhagen's U19s, scoring 15 goals in his first 22 games.

His senior debut eventually came in October 2020, in a Superligaen clash with Aarhus, and he would go on to make 32 appearances across all competitions for Copenhagen. Hojlund only scored five goals during that time, though, and the club did not hesitate to sell when Austrian outfit Sturm Graz came calling in January 2022.

Hojlund made the move to Graz for just €1.9 million, and made an instant impact at the Liebenauer Stadium. He scored twice on his debut for the club, leaving Tirol defender Raffael Behounek completely stunned. "He will be worth every penny," Behounek told Laola1. "He is an absolute machine. When he has space, he is very difficult to defend against."

Graz manager Christian Ilzer soon realised that Hojlund was in a different class to his peers in the dressing room. “Hojlund has always been a self-confident boy,” he said. “He even seems cocky if you don’t know him. He has flair, speed and an above-average footballing intelligence.”

Graz went on to finish second in the Austrian Bundesliga behind Red Bull Salzburg with the help of Hojlund, qualifying for the Champions League play-offs. Dynamo Kyiv ultimately blocked Graz's progress, but Hojlund scored their only goal over the two legs as he started the 2022-23 season with a bang.

Hojlund recorded five goal contributions in his first five Bundesliga outings, leading to links with Premier League giants Newcastle, as well as Club Brugge. It was Atalanta who won the race for his signature, though, as Graz accepted the Italian club's €17m bid at the end of August.

Shortly after his arrival in Bergamo, Hojlund was called up to the Denmark national team for the first time, and earned his first cap from the bench in a memorable 2-0 Nations League victory over France. The talented frontman also had to get used to a role among the substitutes in his first few months with Atalanta.

Holjund only started four Serie A games for Atalanta between September and December, but he forced his way into Gian Piero Gasperini's line up after the turn of the year. The Denmark international scored in each of his first four appearances in 2023, which set the stage for a stunning performance in Rome.

Atalanta were underdogs when they faced Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on February 11, having lost the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign. But Hojlund bullied the home defence from minute one, and almost scored two spectacular solo goals inside the first 48 minutes, only to narrowly come up short with his finishing on both occasions.

Hojlund eventually got the goal his performance deserved just after the hour mark, sliding the ball home from close range after latching onto a cross from Ademola Lookman. The goal effectively sealed a 2-0 victory for Atalanta, and Gasperini heaped praise on Hojlund after the final whistle.

“Hojlund has this spirit, energy, intensity, but also technical quality that is just remarkable,” the Atalanta boss told reporters. "He still has so much margin for improvement, too. He is so quick, he’s under 11 seconds over 100m and that’s not even trying very hard.Considering his height, he has a low centre of gravity and can move his legs very fast. I am convinced he’ll have a great career, he just gets stronger every day.”

This was the moment that Hojlund truly announced himself as one of Europe's brightest young prospects.

Hojlund was back on international duty with Denmark in March, and got the nod for his full debut in their opening Euro 2024 qualifying clash against Finland. The 20-year-old scored a brilliant hat-trick to give Kasper Hjulmand's side a 3-1 victory, and helped himself to another two goals in their surprise loss to Kazakhstan on matchday two.

In the space of a week, Hojlund made himself undroppable. Being left out of Denmark's squad for the 2022 World Cup four months earlier only strengthened his resolve, with Hjulmand adamant that his decision was for the best, despite his side's early elimination in Qatar.

"There is no doubt that the World Cup break was good for Rasmus," the Denmark manager said after the Finland game. "During that period, he trained extremely well and hard to put in more effort. He gained a better understanding of the language, of Gasperini and how Atalanta played. We are happy that he has reached where he is now."

Hojlund continued to shine for Atalanta after the international break, and finished the campaign with a respectable total of 10 goals and four assists from 34 appearances in all competitions. Gasperini knew he had a diamond on his hands, but warned that he can't afford to rest on his laurels.

“He has very important qualities and he has demonstrated them,” the Italian coach said after seeing Hojlund produce another star turn in a 3-1 win against Cremonese in April. “He is very young and he must not think that he has nothing more to learn. The stairs to improve are endless, he must not lose humility and mentality.”

Hojlund was under contract at the Gewiss Stadium until 2027, but has now headed for pastures new. Gasperini's warning stemmed from his desire to avoid losing a key member of his squad, but the truth is, Hojlund has already outgrown Atalanta - and United could be the best place for him to unlock his full potential.

“I didn’t expect him to be this strong. When he joined, his qualities were noticeable, but maybe his first touch and conditioning were a bit lacking. He has incredible quickness and the stamina to go for the entire 90 minutes now.” Atalanta’s Marten de Roon's assessment of Hojlund in April spoke volumes for how highly he is regarded behind the scenes in Bergamo.

Club captain Rafael Toloi has been similarly effusive in his praise of the Danish frontman: “Hojlund is a great talent, physically strong and with great speed. He has everything he needs to be great and is working with the right coach and with the right team.”

Blessed with imposing physical attributes, Hojlund is also deceptively quick and intelligent when it comes to timing his runs in behind. He thrives when carrying the ball in the transition and boasts excellent instincts in the box, with defenders often left on their heels trying to keep track of him.

Hojlund doesn't waste energy either. A lot of modern-day forwards have the tendency to drift into wide areas, but the Dane sticks in the centre and works the channels constantly, while saving most of his shots on goal for inside the 18-yard box.

He's a natural when it comes to sniffing out chances, and more often than not, has the clinical edge to match his work rate and skill. Hojlund looks like the ideal fit for the Premier League, and indeed United.

With the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Casemiro providing the service, Hojlund has every opportunity to hit the ground running at Old Trafford. He also appears to share the same arrogant streak as some of the Red Devils' great No.9s of the past - all he needs is the platform to prove himself.

Hojlund's rise has been remarkable, but it's easy to forget that he was still a teenager at the start of the year. He has all the qualities to be a top player, but is far from the finished article at this stage of his fledgling career.

When it comes to his general link-up play, Hojlund can still be quite erratic. He's not the most accomplished passer, and his decision-making in possession certainly needs to be improved.

The Danish striker dwells too long on the ball at times, which gives the opposition the chance to get back at him and snuff out any danger. He has also been guilty of overrunning the ball during his time at Atalanta, playing with his head down too often and failing to pass it off to a team-mate in a better position as a result.

While United have managed to get a deal for Hojlund over the line, patience will be needed. Ten Hag's ultimate vision is to build a team capable of dominating possession, in the same way as rivals Manchester City, with quick passing interchanges favoured to break the lines over a more methodical approach.

The Red Devils are already an astute counter-attacking side, and Hojlund would fit in well with their current profile of attackers. But he needs to polish up his technical skills in order to reach the next level.

Hojlund's hulkish frame and ruthless style of play have naturally seen him compared with Haaland, who also made his name in the Austrian Bundesliga at Salzburg. “There can be a comparison between Rasmus and Haaland,” Graz manager Ilzer said of Hojlund after his move to Atalanta. “In some characteristics, they are similar. Both are very fast, they also share determination and the desire to always score."

Gasperini has also drawn similarities between the two players, but Hojlund has insisted that he still has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same bracket as the Norwegian. “As I’ve said many times before, I would not like to compare myself to him because he’s a monster, he’s crazy!” he said in an interview with the Austrian Bundesliga last year.

“I can see the similarities: he’s fast, I’m also fast; he’s left-footed, I’m also left-footed; he’s strong and I’m strong, too. I hope that I can reach his level, but I’ll need to train very hard and be even more focused on the pitch.”

Hojlund and Haaland certainly share the same presence of mind in the final third, with both men adept when it comes to timing their shots at the perfect moment. The Atalanta star is also a pressing monster, and just like Haaland, often forces defenders into mistakes by harassing them relentlessly over the course of a game.

Hojlund lags behind Haaland in terms of shot volume, which goes some way to explaining why the City man's goal record is so vastly superior. However, Hojlund has the potential to score a greater variety of goals, given the fact he is more comfortable than Haaland with his weaker right foot and poses a slightly bigger threat in the air.

Being dubbed the new Haaland doesn't do Hojlund any favours, but he also has the potential to make a lasting on impression on the Premier League if deployed in the right system. The only question is whether or not he is ready to deliver at the very highest level on a consistent basis.

With an Old Trafford move now completed, It doesn't hurt that he's a lifelong supporter of the Red Devils. "Now that you ask, I will not hide the fact that I am a huge Manchester United fan," Hojlund said in January, as per MEN. "So personally, it would be one of the biggest things for me, but of course, that doesn’t mean that I would turn down other big clubs if the offers come at some point."

The Atalanta star is clearly not someone who hides his burning ambitions. Hojlund was quizzed directly on United's reported interest in his services earlier this summer, and was once again honest about the prospect of a potential transfer. "It is a huge club, so I must have done something right if it’s rumoured they want me. We have to see what happens," He told Tipsbladet.

"As you see and hear, I imagine a lot could happen to quite a few strikers this summer, as many clubs are looking for a No.9. Something will definitely happen there, and then we’ll have to wait and see if I am included in it."

A switch to Manchester sees Hojlund link up with his compatriot Christian Eriksen, who had done his part to fuel the ongoing transfer rumours. “I can see him at Manchester United, but I haven’t recommended him to Erik ten Hag," Eriksen has told Ekstra Bladet. "He is a fantastic guy and a good player and has really developed brilliantly at Atalanta."

The stars seem to have aligned for Hojlund, and it makes sense for United to take a calculated risk on the young Dane.

After watching Haaland take City to even greater heights, United need to respond. Hojlund may not be as prolific as the Terminator from Norway, but he might be exactly what Ten Hag needs to kick his revolution at Old Trafford into overdrive.