Man Utd legend defends £72m star, demands two forwards to help him

United signed Hojlund from Atalanta for £72 million, but the Denmark international failed to live up to the massive expectations. The 22-year-old forward made 52 appearances for United last season in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists.

Speaking on the Overlap Fan Debate (via YouTube), Scholes defended Hojlund despite facing counterarguments from a United fan. He said:

“I’d keep Hojlund. I know he’s not been great, but he’s a 22-year-old kid who has been asked to play centre-forward for Manchester United on his own for the last two years. He’s had to play every week. He’s the only one there. He’s a 22-year-old kid. With the way they play, Man United should have at least three top centre-forwards, and I’d bring him into that. Get (Victor) Osimhen and (Viktor) Gyokeres. Hojlund, he’s struggled like mad of late, especially, but he’s not got the chance to sit down and watch.”

Scholes highlighted confidence as the reason that Hojlund has struggled, and that it is up to Amorim to help him. He added:

“If a striker is not doing well, no confidence, the manager sits you down and says, ‘have a look, get a bit of hunger back, a bit of feeling back for the game’. We all know he has got centre-forward qualities, we’ve seen it. Not enough, I know that, but if he has got experience around him. Say he had Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke around him, it’d bring him on so much. He’s been absolutely flogged to death. People forget how old he is. A lot of it is confidence.” 

United have already signed Matheus Cunha and are closing in on signing Bryan Mbeumo, potentially costing above £100 million combined. With the financial problems making things hard for the Red Devils, there is a potential for Hojlund to stay.

However, many fans have rightfully given up on the 22-year-old to succeed at United after watching him suffer. There is no denying that Hojlund has all the potential to become a well-respected centre-forward, whether it is at United or elsewhere.

Unless United receive a worthy transfer fee from any potential suitor, it’s the duty of the fans to support their players like Scholes. Rest assured, we hope Scholes is correct about Hojlund if Amorim opts to keep him for another season.