Manchester United are set to receive a significant cash boost this summer after Napoli officially announced they will sign Rasmus Hojlund on a permanent deal. The Italian club will activate the £38 million release clause in the striker's contract, bringing an end to his underwhelming stint at Old Trafford.
Hojlund's Move to Napoli Confirmed
Napoli have confirmed that they will trigger the release clause for Rasmus Hojlund, making his loan move permanent. The Danish international joined Napoli on a season-long loan last summer after failing to make an impact at Manchester United. It is understood that Hojlund has already agreed to a new and improved long-term contract with the Serie A side.
The 23-year-old arrived at Manchester United from Atalanta in 2023 for a fee of £76 million, but he went on to become one of the club's most expensive flops. During his time at United, Hojlund managed just 26 goals in 95 appearances across all competitions, prompting the club to cut their losses and allow him to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
Thriving in Italy
Since joining Napoli, Hojlund has rediscovered his form, scoring 11 goals in 30 Serie A appearances under manager Antonio Conte. The initial loan agreement included an obligation for Napoli to buy Hojlund if they qualified for the Champions League. However, despite Napoli currently sitting second in the league behind Inter Milan, sporting director Giovanni Manna has insisted the club will sign Hojlund regardless of Champions League qualification.
Manna stated: "There are no doubts. Rasmus will stay here. We have an obligation to buy from Manchester United, in case of Champions League access, but he is in our plans regardless of this condition."
Mixed Reactions from United Legends
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has expressed regret over the club's decision to let Hojlund go. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Schmeichel said: "A bit of a shame because I like Hojlund by the way and think he could have been absolutely fantastic. But I don't think he wants to come back."
Schmeichel's former teammate Nicky Butt also criticised how United handled Hojlund's development. Butt remarked: "What they did with Hojlund was wrong because they brought a young boy in who's not got any Premier League experience and asked him to carry Manchester United. I'm scared they're going to do that with Benjamin Sesko. I know Sesko has done really well of late but they still need to get another centre forward; we had four top players in that position."
Manchester United will now look to reinvest the funds from Hojlund's sale as they continue to reshape their squad under new ownership.
