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Rasmus Hojlund has not held back while assessing Ruben Amorim’s disastrous spell at Manchester United, saying the entire squad “suffered” under the Portuguese coach. The Denmark international has now completed a permanent move to Napoli, bringing an end to a difficult period at Old Trafford in which the club absorbed a major financial loss on the fee they originally paid for him.

Hojlund looks back on difficult days at Old Trafford

The Denmark forward left Manchester United on a permanent basis this summer, joining Napoli in a £38 million transfer after a successful loan stint in Italy. Hojlund had first arrived at Old Trafford from Atalanta in 2023 for a huge £72m fee, but he was ultimately unable to consistently live up to the enormous expectations placed on him in the Premier League.

Although his debut season offered encouragement, with Hojlund ending the campaign as the club’s top scorer and winning the FA Cup under Erik ten Hag, things quickly deteriorated afterwards. Amorim’s appointment in November 2024 triggered a sharp decline in the striker’s output, with Hojlund scoring only eight goals in 40 appearances under the Portuguese manager.

‘We all suffered’ under Amorim

In comments to Gazzetta dello Sport, Hojlund defended his early spell in Manchester before explaining the steep drop-off that followed the managerial change. He said a major tactical shift was the key reason behind the team’s poor run of form.

“I don’t think anything specific went wrong. I arrived at a club with a manager. It was a difficult year, with a lot of injuries, but we won the FA Cup, and I was the top scorer,” Hojlund said. “Then we went through a difficult period and Amorim arrived, an excellent coach but with a different style of play. The team had to adapt, and it was complicated. We all suffered.”

The 23-year-old also pointed to the fine margins that shaped his United career, referring to their narrow 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final. “My first year was a success; the second was not,” he added. “But I played in the Europa League final. If we had won, it would have been a different story. That’s football. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it goes badly, but I’m very happy to have played for the club I dreamed of as a child.”

Crowded out at Manchester

Hojlund’s future in England was effectively decided by a major squad rebuild overseen by INEOS. The arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha pushed the Dane further down the pecking order, resulting in his initial loan move to Naples for the 2025-26 season.

Amorim, who was dismissed in January 2026 after posting the worst win percentage of any United manager in Premier League history, had earlier explained the departure. Speaking in late 2025, he admitted he could not promise the striker enough game time.

“We need two strikers, and sometimes I prefer players who can cover multiple positions,” Amorim said. “Imagine telling Rasmus he’ll only play when Ben [Sesko] is absent; that’s impossible to manage in a dressing room. That’s why developing young players from the academy is so important.”

Serie A revenge mission?

Hojlund will now aim to build on the impressive return of 15 goals he produced during his initial loan spell at Napoli, further cementing his status as a leading striker in Serie A. Ironically, his push for domestic success in Italy will now bring him face to face with his former tormentor.

Amorim has since taken charge of AC Milan, setting up an intriguing tactical battle this season. Hojlund will surely be eager to gain a measure of personal revenge on the pitch when Napoli and Milan meet.