Rasmus Hojlund exclusive: Manchester United star says playing for 'legendary' club completes childhood goals

Rasmus Hojlund says playing for Manchester United has completed his list of childhood goals.

The Denmark international striker, 21, moved to Old Trafford last summer having spent one season with Serie A club Atalanta.

After taking a while to find his feet at Old Trafford, he has gone on to make a big impact, scoring 13 times in all competitions so far in his debut campaign.

Included in his impressive output was a run of seven goals in six games towards the beginning of 2024.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Hojlund has revealed how playing for United was no pipe dream, but a specific target for him ever since he was a young boy.

"I'm very goal orientated. I put some goals [down] when I was around 10 that I wanted to achieve in my football career," he said.

"It was getting my first pro contract and then playing first team football and then get to the national team and now the last one was to play for Manchester United one day, which I've also achieved now."

The evidence of his long-held ambition is still on display back home.

"It's still in the frame back home in my old room in Denmark, in my parents' house," he added.

Having been born in Copenhagen and spent time in his youth career at Brondby and FC Copenhagen, why was United such a draw 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 the things combined made my father a fan and me as well."

As well as the goals written on a scrap of paper in his boyhood bedroom, Hojlund has made a good fist of scoring literal goals on the football pitch, with his first for United coming in the UEFA Champions League.

He found the net in Germany but his team fell to a 4-3 defeat against Bayern Munich.

For Hojlund, though, the goal he will always remember was his first at Old Trafford, despite that also coming in a European defeat.

He scored twice to put United 2-1 ahead at home to Galatasaray but the Turkish side came back to win 3-2, with Erik ten Hag's side eventually crashing out in the group stages.

Reflecting on that night, Hojlund has fond memories.

He explained: "A special game for me. Of course, annoyed with the result and our campaign, of course, but I was very, very happy with my own performance that day.

"I scored two goals, a very good goal in front of the Stretford End, which was my first as well which was very special and I think I'll remember for the rest of my life.

"I've always watched a lot of Champions League games and it's always very special for me. The competition really motivates me."

United are currently sixth in the Premier League, 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification for next season.

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