The summer of 2023 saw another young, highly-rated Scandinavian striker make headline-grabbing move to Manchester. Manchester United broke their bank to acquire 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for a reported $82 million.
With Erling Haaland rocking Europe with his performances and helping Manchester City win the treble after joining them from Borussia Dortmund back in July 2022 for $62 million, everybody had their thinking that Hojlund would be a player of a quite similar caliber. But things haven’t been looking good for the Danish striker.
Since he arrived at the Theatre of Dreams, Rasmus Hojlund has managed to grab just 5 goals in all competitions across 19 matches played. Such contributions are not what Manchester United fans thought of when they were told about this breaking news.
🚨 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥: Rasmus Højlund cost more than Erling Haaland. https://t.co/6ALsMcjKDp
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 9, 2023
With all of his 5 goals coming across the UEFA Champions League, he is yet to break his duck in the Premier League. Having played 12 matches in the Premier League and not breaking his duck yet people are questioning themselves about, did Manchester United paid more to Atalanta for Hojlund than Manchester City had paid to Borussia Dortmund for Haaland.
Aged 20 years old, things are not over yet for Hojlund to build his career at Old Trafford. With Erling Haaland being one-of-a-kind type of player, there would be just a few players who could match his statistics in European football.
Why does Manchester United overpay for their most signings?
As seasons go by, we see Manchester United break their banks to make new signings. But as each season passes by, the same question pops up in everybody’s mind. Why does Manchester United overpay for literally anybody who they sign?
Well, the main answer to that comes from the top of Manchester United’s structure, the Glazer family. Since the Glazers bought Manchester United back in 2005, they have never added a structure to this club which in hindrances is causing them massive trouble in the current day and age.
They had an accountant or investment banker, Ed Woodward, in the Chief Executive role for around 10 years. That proved to be a massive issue, as not having a good knowledge about the soccer sport, Ed Woodward made several blunders across his tenure in terms of transfers made.
Manchester United’s net spend is the highest of any club in Europe’s top five leagues over the last ten seasons.
They’ve spent just over €1 BILLION, according to the CIES Football Observatory 😳 pic.twitter.com/PzEzlgfEQz
— GOAL (@goal) February 7, 2022
Manchester United splashed huge chunks of cash back in the middle of 2010s before any other club spent high amounts. Such payments made by other clubs take advantage of Manchester United’s financial wealth. So whenever Manchester United go on to make transfers, other club think of as much profit they can take out of them at any moment.
With soccer working around just transfers nowadays, it will be really difficult for Manchester United to turn things around now. Until and unless they stop going for expensive transfers and make young talents excel in their role, only then will this situation come out as a betterment for their future.