'It's better for Rasmus Hojlund to stay home!' - AC Milan told to let striker remain Man Utd bench-warmer if he doesn't have 'the fire inside' to play for legendary club

Manchester United and Milan have been in talks over a potential loan move for Hojlund, which would include a buyout option at the end of the season. However, Hojlund has put up some resistance over a transfer, having made it clear that he wants to fight for a place at United. The Red Devils, meanwhile, don't consider him a part of the project anymore. 

Hojlund failed to impress last season, where he scored only four times in the Premier League and recorded 10 goals overall, across 52 games. United, who lacked the thrust in the attacking third last season, made crucial signings this summer, roping in Matheus Cunha from Wolves, Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. The arrival of Sesko means Hojlund will have to sit on the bench and ex-Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi has advised the club to leave him there if he is not motivated to join the Italian side.

The 79-year-old said to Gazzetta dello Sport: "If he prefers to sit on the bench or in the stands at Old Trafford rather than start for AC Milan, then the Rossoneri management should let this striker go and focus on someone who truly wants to wear the Rossoneri shirt. AC Milan must be loved; it can't be a second-best option. The first quality required: reliability. Then comes everything else. But if you're not reliable, if you don't have fire inside, if you're not willing to sacrifice yourself for the club and your teammates, it's better for him to stay home."

He added: "First of all: we're not talking about [Marco] van Basten, nor one of the best strikers in Europe right now. He's a decent player, nothing more. So, this pursuit of him seems exaggerated to me. However, since there's a shortage of strikers, I understand the Rossoneri directors' desire to secure one. But he's eager to come to Italy, he's not acting up... I don't understand his choice. If Milan calls you, you should pack your bags and get on the first plane to Malpensa. Milan, in the world of football, is a legendary name. I would take all the players who are bought for a tour of the trophy room so they can fully understand where they ended up. They're the ones who should be thankful for having been signed, not the other way around. Do I make myself clear? The club comes first, then the player. Of course, Manchester United, for goodness' sake, is also a legendary team, but on one side there's a club, Milan, that offers you a permanent position, and on the other there's another that He's doing everything he can to sell you. Perhaps he wants to prove to Manchester United that he's as good as the newly acquired players? That could be an explanation, but sometimes following your instincts isn't a good way to get far. I think it would have been important for Hojlund to seize the opportunity AC Milan offered. He's hesitant and unconvinced? No problem. He stays where he is and Milan thinks about another player who, possibly, has the desire to wear the Rossoneri shirt."

Milan director Igli Tare is still in England monitoring the 22-year-old's situation. United are keen to offload him but it all depends on what Hojlund's decision.