Amorim the culprit? Rasmus Højlund recounts the moment he decided to leave Manchester United, lamenting his diminished role that left him without a place.
On 25 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Rasmus Højlund candidly told Danish TV station TV2 that toward the end of his time at Manchester United, his role was clearly limited, and he realized that if he stayed, his chances of playing would be almost nonexistent.
The Danish striker moved from Atalanta to the "Red Devils" in 2023 for £72 million. In his first season, he scored 16 goals, but in his second year, his form noticeably declined, netting only 10 goals in 52 matches before being loaned to Napoli in September, with an option to buy for £38 million if the club qualifies for the UEFA Champions League.
Højlund said, “I got what I wanted from this transfer: a club that believes in me, plus a director, chairman, and coach who truly want me. Toward the end at Manchester United, I felt sidelined, like I was boxed in with the lid closed, and I knew that if things stayed that way, I wouldn’t play anymore.”
This statement was directed at former "Red Devils" coach Rúben Amorim, who decided to release him at the start of the 2025/26 season. Amorim had explained that he wanted a forward who could play multiple positions and that having Højlund as a backup was not a suitable option.
He told Højlund directly to find a new team, as he no longer intended to use him in a key role, even though the player wanted to fight to keep his place on the team.
The results in Naples have proven his decision right: Højlund scored 14 goals and made 4 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions, compared to his two years at Old Trafford, where he scored 26 goals in 95 matches.
Sporting director Giovanni Manna stated that making the transfer permanent is “something that must be done,” revealing that bigger clubs had shown interest in Højlund, but the player chose Napoli. The purchase option applies if Napoli qualifies for the Champions League; currently, Napoli is sitting third in Serie A.