"Fiorentina match overlooks Manchester United player, sparking concerns among fans"
Manchester United's Pre-Season Draw Against Fiorentina: Hojlund on the Sidelines
Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford ended in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, with United winning the penalty shootout. The match was the Red Devils' last before their opening Premier League match against Arsenal next weekend.
Despite the promising performance in pre-season, including a 4-1 victory over Bournemouth, Rasmus Hojlund, Manchester United's most senior available striker, was an unused substitute during the game. Manager Rubem Amorim chose not to bring him on.
Hojlund, who joined United from Atalanta in 2023, had a tough season last year and believes he should have done better. The Danish striker has been overlooked by the club's management, largely due to his underwhelming performance in his sophomore season, scoring just four league goals. This has led to the club seeking other offensive reinforcements and potential replacements.
The arrival of new forwards like Benjamin Sesko, who completed his £74million transfer from RB Leipzig but was unavailable to play, signals Manchester United's desire to rejuvenate their frontline. The club’s preference now seems to be to either loan out or sell Hojlund, with Borussia Dortmund showing interest. AC Milan is also reportedly interested in taking Hojlund on loan with a £35m option to buy him next summer.
However, Hojlund insists he is ready to battle for minutes under Amorim this term. He spoke about his future during the trip to the USA, claiming he has been working hard to sharpen himself during the holidays. Manchester United supporters expressed their disappointment on social media about Hojlund not being used as a substitute, but the young striker maintains his plan is to stay and fight for his spot at Old Trafford.
United are willing to sell Hojlund and want around £40m for him. The future at the club remains uncertain with strong external interest posing imminent prospects of departure. But for now, Hojlund will continue to train and hope for his opportunity to shine when it comes.
Sports analysts are closely watching Manchester United's strategy for the upcoming European-leagues season, with the Premier-league opener against Arsenal looming. Despite Rasmus Hojlund's aspiration to prove himself, his lackluster performance in the pre-season game against Fiorentina and his low goal tally in previous league matches may prevent him from securing a spot in the sports-analysis spotlight.
