Hojlund reveals Ronaldo role in sealing Man Utd move

FT Desk
FT Desk
  • 11 Nov 2023 10:40 CST
  • 3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo, Man Utd, 2022/23
© ProShots

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has revealed that the example of Cristiano Ronaldo was a key factor in his journey to Old Trafford.

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The Denmark international moved to United this summer in a €75 million switch from Atalanta, after shining in Serie A.

His arrival was in no small part motivated by the need to replace Ronaldo, who cut short his second spell at the club under a cloud in 2022 prior to moving to Al-Nassr.

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After a slow start due to injury Hojlund seems to be finding his feet at Old Trafford, and he believes Ronaldo was a dream role model for him growing up.

"Cristiano has always been like my idol growing up," he explained to TeamViewer Diaries.

"I always thought he was the best football player in the world and I just tried to learn from him. He is the greatest goalscorer ever, probably as well.

"I've always looked at him back in the day where he was more of a dribbler and now he's a proper, proper goalscorer.

'He worked to be the best ever'

"You know he had proper talent, but he worked hard to be the best ever and I like that about him.

"I think there's a lot of things I can improve, which is, of course, a good thing because then I think I can develop into being an even greater striker than I am now. Hopefully, I can just keep learning every day from the guys here, from the games and from the coaching staff."

Hojlund has netted five goals in his first 15 appearances for United, all of which have come in the Champions League as he still waits to break his Premier League duck.

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