The making of Rasmus Hojlund: From basement football to £72m Man Utd star

Then, in the age of social media, one clip stayed in his memory – an interview with Rio Ferdinand, Anderson and Ronaldo where they are asked who the best player in the world is. Ronaldo offered up himself as the answer. “I like this mentality. He just put it out and said at least he wanted to be the best, and that’s the same mentality I go for. I want to be the best version of myself,” Hojlund said.

At United he has been waiting to fully arrive. At the start of the season he had a back injury that had to be managed carefully, even if he was able to start games from mid-September. He scored five goals in the Champions League group stages but his first Premier League goal did not arrive until a winner against Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

His season saw steady improvement and adaptation to his new surroundings. It was noticeable that his first start, against Brighton, saw him try a dart to the near post as his stock run. He varied his game as the season progressed. Back in Copenhagen when he was a teenager he studied movement, manipulating defenders and strategies on finishing. All of this had to be taken on board in the Premier League.

He was not helped by United’s rollercoaster season. During their slump in the middle of the campaign, stats showed that Hojlund received fewer passes than any other main centre-forward in the Premier League. He then went on a run of eight goals in as many games, with less touches on the ball and better movement during his streak.

One of United’s untouchable youngsters

By the time the season finished his picture sitting on the Old Trafford advertising hoardings in celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho was iconic. Here was the future of United. The club are willing to listen to offers for most of their players apart from a few untouchable youngsters, with Hojlund among them.

Away from the pitch he is more settled. His girlfriend moved over from Denmark around the time he found his goalscoring touch. “It gives me stability,” he previously said. When he is not training he is an avid gamer, with some of his old goal celebrations in honour of Fortnite.

Ten Hag’s signings have been questioned during his time at United and Hojlund has been one of them under the spotlight, although the United manager says his striker has done well considering three injuries that interrupted his season.

“When we decided to go for him we talked about buying a player for this season and for the future,” said Ten Hag. “He has to develop, he has to progress, he needs time, sometimes it goes up and down, before winter he struggled to get his first Premier League goal but he is a very strong character.”

United would still like a striker next season to support Hojlund, but trust is growing in him and he has felt improvement.

“When it’s in a worse period or good period it’s about improving and getting in positions where I can be a better player,” he said.