Hojlund Breaks Silence on Amorim Exit: "It Felt Like it Was Over"

Rasmus Hojlund has broken his silence on his Old Trafford exit, taking aim at former manager Ruben Amorim for the role he played in the striker's summer departure.

The Danish forward, who arrived at United from Atalanta for approximately £72m in 2023, endured a dramatic drop in form during the 2024/25 campaign after an encouraging first season. That decline ultimately led to his exit, with Napoli securing him on loan last summer with a purchase option valued around £43m.

All signs point to the move becoming permanent, hardly a shock given Hojlund's ten-goal haul in 26 Serie A outings this season.

Speaking to TV2, Hojlund revealed how his fortunes have shifted dramatically since the switch. "I got what I wanted with my transfer," he explained. "I got a team that believes in me a lot. A club that believes in me a lot. A sporting director, a president and a coach who wants me."

The 23-year-old was candid about his struggles in Manchester, admitting the situation had become untenable. "It felt like it was over for me at one point," Hojlund reflected. "Here at Napoli, I've rediscovered my love for football. People even back in Denmark were writing me off, but I never stopped believing."

His frustration with Amorim's handling appears rooted in tactical decisions. Hojlund pinpointed being omitted from the Arsenal fixture on opening day of the 2025/26 campaign as a watershed moment, with the Portuguese boss effectively benching him. "I was put in a bit of a box at the end in Manchester. I knew there wouldn't be much football for me if it continued like this," he said.

Despite the narrative that painted him as a complete washout at United, Hojlund insists the reality was more nuanced. "I was happy to play football in Manchester," he stated. "I know that, especially in Denmark, a media image was formed that it was all just terrible and that I played poorly, but that's not how I look at it."

The striker acknowledged the difficulty of tuning out noise in the modern age. "It's hard not to be on your phone. And if you are on your phone, you're bound to see what's being written about you in some way," he admitted. "The media has so much to say in this football world, and it's hard not to be influenced."

Yet Hojlund struck a reflective tone about the constant swings in perception. "Now it's portrayed as if I'm back and just doing really well. But inside myself my thoughts are in a completely different place. I'm self-critical. I still want to be even better, more involved in the games and score more goals, but it's fun to observe how the image of me is constantly changing."

He concluded with a pragmatic acceptance of life in the spotlight: "It's clear that there is also a difference between Napoli and Manchester United, especially in Denmark. But I have to live with the headlines – they will always be there because someone wants to use me as an eye-catcher."