Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has publicly explained the reasoning behind his dramatic summer departure from Old Trafford, pointing to a decisive conversation with manager Ruben Amorim.
The conversation that changed everything
The 22-year-old Dane, who joined Napoli on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for £38 million, has revealed he initially intended to stay and fight for his place. However, a frank discussion with United's boss altered his course. "United made it very clear that I wasn't part of their plans for this year, coming into the season," Hojlund told Sports Illustrated.
This clarity, combined with the club's lack of European football, created an opportunity that Napoli were quick to seize. The Italian side paid a £5.2 million loan fee to secure his services on transfer deadline day, where he reunited with former teammate Scott McTominay.
Antonio Conte's decisive role
While the situation at United prompted his exit, the allure of working under Napoli manager Antonio Conte solidified his decision. Hojlund, who has previous experience in Serie A, described the Italian tactician as an "incredible coach" and admitted "when he calls, you just have to say yes."
The move has already begun to pay dividends for the young forward. Under Conte's guidance, Hojlund has found a rich vein of form, scoring six goals in 12 league appearances. This includes a recent hot streak of four goals in his last three matches, already matching his entire Premier League tally from the 2024/25 season.
Reflecting on his United chapter
Despite his struggles to consistently hit the net in Manchester, Hojlund retains positive memories of his time at the club. He reflected fondly on his debut campaign, where he scored 16 goals and became the team's top scorer.
"I felt it was the right step for me," he said of his original £72 million move in 2023. "I think I did well; you could argue that maybe I needed another year or whatever... I won a trophy with the guys." In total, he netted 26 times in 95 appearances for United.
Hojlund emphasised there is no ill will, stating he still watches their games and wishes his former colleagues luck. His immediate focus, however, is on Napoli's Serie A title charge, with the club currently sitting third, just two points behind leaders Inter Milan.
