Rasmus Hojlund, the Danish striker who joined Manchester United last summer in a £72m deal from Atalanta, has had a disappointing first season at Old Trafford. With only eight goals in 27 league games, Hojlund’s performance has fallen short of expectations. Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool and England defender, believes that the 21-year-old may have struggled with the transition from Serie A to the Premier League.
Carragher expressed sympathy for Hojlund, suggesting that he may have benefited from a move to another club before joining Manchester United. In Carragher’s opinion, the jump in level may have been too much for such a young and inexperienced player. He went on to say that he feels sorry for Hojlund, particularly after Manchester United’s embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
During the match, Carragher noticed an incident between Hojlund and teammate Antony. Antony appeared to throw his arms at Hojlund after a mix-up, and Carragher found this behavior frustrating. He criticized players who engage in secretive conversations on the pitch, speculating that they may be talking about someone other than their teammates. Carragher believes that this kind of behavior can be detrimental to team morale and can lead to speculation and rumors among the players.
Despite his struggles, Hojlund did have a successful run earlier in the season, scoring in six consecutive games. However, he has only managed to find the back of the net once in his last 11 matches. With four more opportunities to add to his goal tally before the end of the season, Hojlund will be hoping to finish strong.
While it is clear that Hojlund’s first season at Manchester United has not gone as planned, there is still potential for him to improve and become a key player for the club. With time and experience, he may be able to adapt to the demands of the Premier League. However, Carragher’s comments highlight the importance of considering a player’s readiness for such a move and the potential consequences of joining a top club too early in their career.
As Hojlund continues to develop and adjust to the Premier League, it will be interesting to see how he progresses and whether he can fulfill his potential at Manchester United.