Manchester United’s striker storyline will be one to watch all season, with Benjamin Sesko looking to prove he is the right fit, while Rasmus Hojlund aims to show in Naples that United might have let the right player go.
Sesko recently scored his first goal for Man Utd, and there was a clear contrast in mentality with Rasmus Hojlund.
But Hojlund has had a better start at Napoli overall, scoring on his debut and quickly earning Antonio Conte’s trust.
The Italian press echoed a familiar sentiment about Hojlund after his recent game at AC Milan – something Man Utd fans know well.
Napoli fans react to Rasmus Hojlund’s performance
Hojlund did not live up to the hype during his spell at Old Trafford, and while the club did not do much to help him settle in, that fact does not change.
By the time he left United, he looked nothing like the confident player they thought they were signing, stuck in a run of poor form and low morale.
In Naples, though, things started to look up. Conte’s setup seemed to suit him better, and he was getting back into form. That is why his performance against Milan felt like a step backwards.
The match saw him put in plenty of effort but with little end product. He played 73 minutes but managed just 16 touches, completing only seven of his 11 passes and losing possession twice.
It mirrored some of his struggles at United. When he was not scoring, it often felt like the team lacked a real presence up front.
Italian media spot familiar pattern in Rasmus Hojlund’s game
Hojlund’s lack of service at United, and his own struggles in front of goal, became a bit of a cycle during his time there.
Was he failing to score because the supply was not there, or did his lack of goals mean he struggled to get involved?
It was never really clear, and now that same issue has cropped up again, most recently in the Milan match.
Tuttomercatoweb rated him 5/10 for the match, noting: “Attacks the depth, which is what he was bought for and what he does best, but he’s served poorly and infrequently. As a result, he ends up engulfed by Gabbia and his teammates.”
Il Messaggero also handed him a 5/10 rating, commenting that he ‘failed’ to influence the game, something United fans will recognise from last season.
Goal Italy echoed those thoughts too. They gave him another 5/10 rating, describing how Milan’s defence managed to keep him quiet throughout.
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