Rasmus Hojlund reveals: Achieving childhood dreams by playing for ‘legendary’ Manchester United club.

Rasmus Hojlund, the Danish international striker, has expressed his delight at achieving his childhood dream of playing for Manchester United. The 21-year-old joined the club last summer after a successful season with Serie A side Atalanta. Although it took him some time to settle in at Old Trafford, he has since made a significant impact, scoring 13 goals in all competitions during his debut campaign.

Hojlund’s impressive goal-scoring run included seven goals in six games at the start of 2024. In an interview with TNT Sports, he revealed that playing for United was a specific target he set for himself as a young boy. “I’m very goal-oriented. I set some goals when I was around 10 years old that I wanted to achieve in my football career,” he said. “Getting my first professional contract, playing first-team football, representing the national team, and now playing for Manchester United, which I have also achieved.”

The evidence of his long-held ambition can still be seen in his childhood bedroom in Denmark. “It’s still framed in my old room at my parents’ house,” he added. Born in Copenhagen and having spent time in his youth career at Brondby and FC Copenhagen, Hojlund explained why United was such an attractive club for him. “United has always been probably the biggest club in Denmark as well. It has a huge fan base there, and it’s a special club, what it stands for, how much the club has achieved, how legendary it is. All these factors made my father a fan, and me as well.”

In addition to the goals he wrote on a scrap of paper in his childhood bedroom, Hojlund has also been successful in scoring goals on the football pitch. His first goal for United came in the UEFA Champions League, where he found the net in a 4-3 defeat against Bayern Munich in Germany. However, the goal that holds a special place in his heart is his first at Old Trafford, despite it also resulting in a European defeat. He scored twice to give United a 2-1 lead against Galatasaray, but the Turkish side came back to win 3-2, ultimately leading to United’s elimination from the group stages.

Reflecting on that night, Hojlund has fond memories. “It was a special game for me. Although I was disappointed with the result and our campaign, I was very, very happy with my own performance that day,” he explained. “I scored two goals, including a very good goal in front of the Stretford End, which was my first goal at Old Trafford. It was a very special moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. I have always watched a lot of Champions League games, and the competition really motivates me.”

Currently, Manchester United sits in sixth place in the Premier League, 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification for next season.