Rasmus Hojlund Excluded from Manchester United Squad for Arsenal Match
Rasmus Hojlund will not be included in the Manchester United squad for the upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
This decision comes from coach Ruben Amorim amid growing speculation regarding the future of the 22-year-old striker.
Although Hojlund has previously indicated a strong desire to stay at United, the recent signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig for £73.7 million is expected to limit his playing time significantly.
Amorim opted to keep Hojlund on the bench during the final pre-season friendly against Fiorentina on August 9, even though Sesko's only involvement was to be introduced to the crowd prior to kick-off, as Mason Mount played in a false nine role.
AC Milan has shown interest in acquiring Hojlund, but no formal agreement has been reached as of now.
Hojlund, who was signed for £72 million two years ago, served as United's primary striker last season, netting 10 goals in 52 appearances. His debut season saw him score 16 goals following his transfer from Atalanta in Italy.
The decision to exclude Hojlund has received support from United's management. Amorim has invested £200 million in completely overhauling the forward line, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha expected to occupy the two number 10 positions favored by the coach.
In addition to Mount, if Sesko is unavailable, England international Kobbie Mainoo could also be deployed as a false nine, while Bruno Fernandes successfully filled that role during the 2024 FA Cup final.
During United's pre-season tour in the United States, Cunha took on the number nine position, although he often dropped deeper into midfield.
Seventeen-year-old Chido Obi made appearances for the first team towards the end of last season, but given his current stage of development, he is not expected to be a regular starter and is more likely to be used as a substitute.