Hojlund Reflects on His Journey and Influences as He Thrives at Napoli

Rasmus Hojlund has openly acknowledged his longstanding admiration for Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo, which fueled his desire to join the club in 2023 from Atalanta. During his initial season at Old Trafford, he celebrated winning the FA Cup and reaching the Europa League final. However, his goal-scoring struggles in the following season led to a season-long loan move to Napoli. Hojlund expressed that he felt he performed well at United but made the transition after finding out he was no longer part of the club’s plans, following the arrivals of new players like Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko.

At Napoli, Hojlund is now making significant contributions and has the potential for a permanent transfer, contingent on the team’s qualification for the Champions League. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, he elaborated on the players who have shaped his career, particularly his admiration for Ronaldo. He stated, “Cristiano is my biggest idol. I think I’ve tried to learn a bit from him. We’re not the same type of player, but I admire his mentality and hunger for goals.”

Hojlund praised Ronaldo’s self-confidence and relentless pursuit of improvement, saying, “He believes he’s the best, regardless of others’ opinions. He’s focused solely on getting better, and I truly admire that about him. I’ve only met him a couple of times during national team matches, and I would love to have a more in-depth conversation with him someday.”

Additionally, Hojlund expressed his respect for Romelu Lukaku, another former Manchester United player now at Napoli, acknowledging Lukaku’s impact on his development. He remarked, “Rom is a fantastic guy. I’ve had a few conversations with him on the pitch, and I even have a Romelu shirt at home. He has always been an idol to me. While I know there will be competition for playing time, I want to learn from him, as he has a wealth of experience in scoring goals and linking play.”

Currently, Hojlund has scored three goals in his last three matches for Napoli and is poised to maintain that momentum when the team resumes play against Lazio in Serie A on January 4th. However, with Lukaku returning from injury, Hojlund faces increased competition for a starting position.