Rasmus Hojlund: Manchester United's Rising Star Shining Bright with Haaland-esque Potential

Comparisons with Erling Haaland may not be welcomed or justified, but Rasmus Hojlund could be the exception. The Danish striker, hailed as a sensational player, openly acknowledges the similarities between himself and Haaland.

"I can acknowledge the similarities. He is quick, and I am also quick. He is a left-footer, and I am too. He possesses strength, and I do as well." Hojlund could have also mentioned their shared confidence. It seems likely that he will be joining Haaland in Manchester next season.

Manchester United's intention to invest £72m in the striker highlights the remarkable ascent of a young prodigy who had not even found the net in league competition prior to departing Copenhagen for Sturm Graz in January of the previous year. He spent merely seven months there before being transferred to Atalanta.

The impact he made in Austria was so significant that the club received a sum of €17m (£14.56m), approximately ten times their initial expenditure. His subsequent achievements in Serie A imply that Atalanta could demand an even greater fee. However, what qualities did Sturm Graz discern in the individual now being heralded as United's future superstar?

Sporting director Andreas Schicker sees Hojlund as the model to follow. "Our goal is to achieve success on the field by building a team with a core group of experienced leaders, complemented by young, talented players who we aim to develop," he explains to We.

"Our aim is to groom them for the next level, attain success, and generate profit. Rasmus is a prime example of this strategy working flawlessly. He arrived, performed exceptionally well, contributed to our goal achievements, gained recognition, and ultimately moved on to a larger club in a more prominent league."

One of our key strengths is our ability to accurately identify players through a well-defined and clear profile for each position. In the case of a striker, our focus is on individuals who possess both exceptional speed and depth in their gameplay. Rasmus caught our attention early on during our scouting process, as he perfectly matched these criteria.

Furthermore, an integral aspect of our evaluation process was assessing Rasmus' character right from the beginning. We conducted video calls with both him and his family to gain insight into his mental strength. It was truly remarkable to observe his impressive resilience, especially considering his young age of just 18 at that time.

Sturm Graz head coach Christian Ilzer, the man responsible for integrating him into the team, shares similar views regarding style. When Schicker mentions 'depth', he is referring to the frequent line-breaking runs made by Hojlund behind the defense.

"We aim to involve our strikers swiftly and adopt a highly vertical approach to exploit the weaknesses of our opponents. This requires our strikers, and I believe Rasmus possesses these qualities, to sprint abundantly and make rapid decisions," Ilzer informs We.

It was crucial that our philosophy and style seamlessly aligned with his skillset, creating a favorable atmosphere for him to thrive. Ras proved to be an invaluable asset to our team, showcasing his impressive abilities. His outstanding speed, overall physical prowess, and unwavering dedication to working diligently on both offense and defense were truly commendable.

Ilzer was equally impressed by his character, describing him as incredibly approachable, affable, and humorous - yet it went beyond that. Despite being a teenager embarking on his first international experience, his self-assurance was evident from the moment they first met at a training camp in Slovenia.

"We thoroughly assessed Rasmus before deciding to sign him, delving beyond his skills as a player, so I already had a distinct perception of him as an individual. However, upon his arrival in Catez, he pleasantly exceeded my expectations in every aspect of his personality."

"He quickly became a part of the team due to his outgoing nature. During a match against Rapid Wien, which was only his second game with us, he scored a goal and celebrated with great enthusiasm, right in front of the Rapid supporters.

"I attempted to explain to him that this was not the appropriate approach. However, I soon realized that he thrives in the spotlight. Playing in front of both his supporters and opponents actually motivates him to elevate his performance by an additional five percent."

He possesses an incredible attitude and exudes a captivating aura. Rather than being intimidated, a packed stadium only motivates him. Whether it be in his home territory or in the rival's arena, he possesses an indescribable connection with the fans, igniting their excitement.

It's as if the field transforms into a concert stage and he becomes the rock star who thrills the audience. He effortlessly blends in with this environment and hence became an instant darling of the supporters during his brief tenure here. This ability also makes him well-suited for the grandest stages in football.

In addition to that magnificent goal scored against Rapid, two more were secured in a victory over Red Bull Salzburg last August, a performance that caught the attention of clubs throughout the continent. Schicker quickly realized that the club's ambitious plans for Hojlund were far exceeding expectations.

"He was clearly destined for greater achievements," he recalls. "As a team, we worked on enhancing his skills and it became evident that he would soon take a major leap forward, especially after his incredible performance last summer. Atalanta, in my opinion, proved to be the perfect club for him to take that next significant stride."

In Italy, his impact was equally remarkable. Esteemed coach Gian Piero Gasperini confessed that although he had expected Hojlund to excel in terms of his running ability, the player's relentless determination to make those penetrating runs caught even him off-guard.

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Rasmus Hojlund's hat-trick for Denmark against Finland in March was a cause for celebration.

He began his Serie A career with a goal in his first start, but it was after the World Cup that Hojlund truly shined, scoring in four consecutive games. His exceptional performance continued during the March international break, where he scored five goals in just two matches for Denmark, demonstrating his continuous improvement in the game.

At the end of the season, the player's impressive performance placed him in the top 10 for goals scored from open play, shots on target, and touches inside the opposition penalty box per 90 minutes in Serie A. With such remarkable form, it is evident that his advancement to the next level, at the young age of 20, is highly probable.

United is naturally drawn to him. It's not only because he addresses their need for a forward and because he happens to be a fan of the club. Philip Billing, his teammate on the national team, recognizes him as a United player. He is destined for the grandest platforms and possesses the charisma to dominate them.

Schicker further affirms, "I have complete faith in his abilities and believe he has a brilliant future ahead of him at the highest level in Europe. His exceptional skills, including his speed, strength, and proficiency in front of the goal, combined with his mindset and personality, make him the complete package as a striker."