Erik ten Hag explains why Rasmus Hojlund is the striker Manchester United players have been waiting for
Rasmus Hojlund completed his transfer to Man United on Saturday but will not play for a few weeks due to injury.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says Rasmus Hojlund has “huge potential” after he completed his £72million transfer from Atalanta.
United paraded Hojlund, 20, seven minutes before kick-off in their penultimate pre-season friendly against Lens on at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Hojlund has signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year but will not be match-fit for a few weeks due to an injury he sustained in pre-season training with Atalanta.
United paid Atalanta £64m up front – more than the £60m they were initially prepared to pay – and well-placed sources at the club admit Hojlund is a rough diamond.
Hojlund scored a modest nine goals in 32 appearances for Atalanta last season but Ten Hag believes he is a striker the United players have been waiting for.
He is a real frontman,” Ten Hag said. “Very direct to the goal, very good presser, a physical presence. I think in the balance of this squad, we needed that, alongside (Marcus) Rashford, another player who is direct and can score a goal. That is all in his mind: he wants to score goals.
“I think he has huge potential. And now it’s up to him first, to explore that and we will support him, all the coaches, the team, the team was waiting for a type like him. They will integrate him in the dressing room and in the pitch, they will help him.
Finally, the player has to prove it. That is the character we need; we need hungry players and he is a player who is so determined to score goals, winning games and winning trophies.”
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