One first-team Manchester United player who arrived at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag can still show his worth to Ruben Amorim during this summer’s pre-season tour.
Ruben Amorim will lead his first pre-season campaign as Manchester United manager after he replaced Erik ten Hag at the Premier League club in 2024.
Ten Hag was sacked as United manager after a poor start to the 2024-25 Premier League season last October and Amorim was left to pick up the pieces at the club.
Amorim arrived last November from Sporting CP and the 40-year-old Portuguese coach could only lead United to 15th place in the Premier League table last season.
The ex-Sporting CP head coach has been able to hold his first pre-season training week at the Carrington training complex after the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
First-team United stars reported to Carrington last week – in two separate phases – and have been put through their paces under Red Devils boss Amorim this summer.
Erik ten Hag signed Rasmus Hojlund and the Man Utd striker’s struggles continued under Ruben Amorim in the 2024-25 season
Rasmus Hojlund was part of the second wave of Manchester United players who arrived at the Carrington training complex for pre-season training last week.
The 22-year-old Denmark international completed his second full season at Old Trafford and Rasmus Hojlund still struggled to kick on with his United career.
Hojlund, who is under contract with United until 2028, only found the back of the net a disappointing 10 times in 52 matches across all competitions last season.
The United striker arrived at Old Trafford during Erik ten Hag’s reign after the Red Devils dropped a hefty £72m fee to sign him from Serie A side Atalanta in 2023.
Hojlund had been linked with Inter Milan and other Serie A clubs, including Roma and AC Milan, this summer amid the uncertainty around his future at United.
However, the Danish forward has ended speculation around his time at Old Trafford by suggesting that he will remain under Ruben Amorim for the upcoming season.
Rasmus Hojlund can send a clear-cut message to Ruben Amorim during Man Utd’s pre-season tour and solidify his place in the team
United are on the hunt for a new striker this summer and Amorim bringing in a new forward option could see Rasmus Hojlund lose important first-team opportunities.
Hojlund has been able to fend off competition from fellow United striker Joshua Zirkzee, who equally disappointed in his debut campaign at Old Trafford last season.
Amorim might have kept faith with Hojlund last season amid his poor run of form at times, but the ex-Atalanta man is in for a rude awakening if a new striker arrives.
United’s inability to bring a new striker to Old Trafford — at the time of writing — might be a blessing for Hojlund to ‘throw the kitchen sink’ at his career at the club.
The Red Devils will embark on their pre-season tour this week and Hojlund has five matches now to prove to Amorim that he can overcome his struggles at United.
Hojlund cannot afford any more slip-ups after two underwhelming seasons at United and the Denmark striker finally has to come into his own at the Premier League club.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/VTiI4xL