- 21-year-old Hojlund arrived at Old Trafford last summer following a £72million transfer to Atalanta
- He was shocked when the paparazzi followed him and his girlfriend Laura
- Has Chelsea offered Manchester United a way out of Erik ten Hag’s darkness through the departure of Mauricio Pochettino? – Listen to the It all starts! Podcast
Rasmus Hojlund has admitted he felt ‘cursed’ during his long wait for a first Premier League goal at Manchester United.
Signed from Atalanta for £72 million last summer, the Danish striker felt the pressure to perform at Old Trafford from the start.
But despite goals in the Champions League, it took 15 league games for Hojlund to complete a turnaround from two behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Boxing Day.
The 21-year-old scored 16 goals in 42 games in all competitions in his debut season for United, including Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.
“You feel an incredible amount of pressure when you play for Manchester United,” he said Tipsbladet in his native Denmark.
Rasmus Hojlund celebrates his first Premier League goal against Aston Villa
The Dane has revealed how life has changed for him and his girlfriend Laura Sondergaard
‘It took a while to get going in the Premier League, but I think I’ve caught up quite a bit. I feel like I’ve found my rhythm.
‘It was a frustrating time leading up to my first goal in the Premier League as I felt there was a lot of focus on it.
‘But of course I understand that it’s not impressive not to score a single goal in your first 14 Premier League games, but I felt like bad luck was on my side in the league games. Fortunately it got better.
‘When I scored against Aston Villa I felt like the curse had been lifted a bit. It was a good day because I scored my first goal and we beat a very good team.
‘Personally, it has been a good year for me and I have tried many things. I’ve played in the Premier League and the Champions League and that’s something I’ve always dreamed of.’
Hojlund, who arrived at Old Trafford with the burden of such an expensive transfer fee and having to deal with a back problem, has been on a good run after his breakthrough at Villa.
He scored seven goals in six consecutive games in the Premier League and FA Cup in January and February.
Hojlund ended the season scoring against Newcastle and Brighton, with his performances being a rare positive in a difficult campaign for Erik ten Hag.
The odds did not drop for Hojlund in Premier League action after he arrived for £72 million
But Hojlund has now found his scoring touch and has 16 goals for the season in 42 games
Off the pitch, it didn’t take long for the young striker to appreciate the fierce criticism that comes with being a Manchester United player.
“I remember one of the first days I was walking around town with my girlfriend and there were paparazzi photographers on the street,” he said.
“I thought, ‘Wow, do people really enjoy seeing pictures of me just walking around?’
‘There are always eyes on you, both on and off the field, because the club is so big. It takes some time to get used to it.
“I’ve always wanted to come here, and it’s not that it’s not great, but there’s definitely a downside to it.
Hojlund’s other half, Laura Sondergaard, seen in an Instagram selfie
Hojlund admitted he was shocked that photographers wanted to follow him and Laura
‘You don’t have the same freedom in your vocabulary and in general in everyday life. You can’t always say what you think because it can be taken out of context.
‘I do miss that part: being able to live in peace and act like an idiot if you want to.
‘I do miss being able to mind my own business without having to think about whether anyone is listening and keeping track of where Rasmus Hojlund is now.
‘But I enjoyed it and am already looking forward to next season.’