Copyright GIVEMESPORT
As Manchester United begin to find their feet with improved performances, a deadlier goal threat and an impressive team spirit, it’s becoming clear how one major mistake last season halted progress in its tracks. There has been a whole new feelgood factor around Old Trafford in the last few weeks and at the heart of that new growth has been the sparkling input of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. The summer signings have had a major impact on the look and feel of a Manchester United side that’s slowly beginning to take shape under head coach Ruben Amorim. Red Devils Failed to Support Hojlund Before Loan Exit Acquiring Cunha and Mbeumo has been good recruitment on multiple fronts for Manchester United. But it’s also highlighted the complete failings around the signing of Rasmus Hojlund, an expensive young signing who was forced to toil week in, week out with little support. While Cunha and Mbeumo have fed off each other’s energy and shared the burden of carrying a Red Devils attack that’s always under 24/7 scrutiny, the shameful way Hojlund was left to carry the can for failings last term is a negligence that cannot be overlooked. Cunha and Mbeumo are both 26 and have a wealth of Premier League experience between them. They have taken the heat off each other by performing as a duo - a luxury never afforded to Hojlund. The young Danish international joined Manchester United as a 20-year-old rookie having played just 34 times for Italian side Atalanta before a wildly over-priced £72million move to the Premier League. GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Rasmus Hojlund has been averaging a goal every 168 minutes in Serie A this season When he arrived at Old Trafford, his striking side-kick was Marcus Rashford, who was already becoming disaffected under then-boss Erik ten Hag with question marks already posted about his commitment, application and lifestyle. That hardly made him a good mentor for Hojlund, who had to fend for himself. And he did. In that first season, 2023/24, he fared well, scoring 16 goals in 43 games for Manchester United and showing the promise that first attracted them to him. In truth, and certainly during Sir Alex Ferguson’s days in charge, Hojlund should never have played as many games as he felt his way in a league notoriously brutal for young players - especially a No.9 for the Red Devils. He should have been drip-fed into the team, then taken out to aid his progression. Instead, he was made a scapegoat for poor results and once endured a 21-game barren spell in front of goal which should never have been allowed to happen. In his second season, Hojlund needed help from a seasoned striker with a wealth of experience to pass on to a younger star making his way. So Manchester United persisted with an increasingly disastrous Rashford and bought Joshua Zirkzee - a relative unknown by the club's standards - from Bologna. How did that help Hojlund? Hindsight is a wonderful gift, but how clever and astute would it have been to try and tempt Danny Welbeck back to the club from Brighton & Hove Albion. Not only to help Hojlund’s development but to also add some guile and goals to the stuttering attack at that time. As he struggled alone to hold on to fading credibility, Hojlund was painfully ridiculed and dismissed by supporters and pundits alike. Now, as Cunha and Mbeumo enjoy the adulation of an on-pitch bromance that’s bearing rewards with Manchester United climbing the table, it’s brought his treatment into sharper focus. It remains a duty of care failure on a large scale and the Red Devils must accept much of the blame for not giving a young player the tools to do a job. His rebirth for Italian champions Napoli is heart-warming to see. The goals are flowing and already there’s talk of Napoli triggering the £38million option to buy clause, so his chances of returning to Old Trafford look slim. And that could be another epic Manchester United transfer fail, with fans left to wonder just what might have been with Cunha, Mbeumo and Hojlund all in harness together. Ronaldo Reunion Possible in Lucrative Winter Friendly Manchester United are desperately trying to find space for a money-spinning “mega-friendly” early next year. With no European or Carabao Cup football after their defeat to Grimsby Town, Amorim is keen to incorporate a sunshine mini-break in the New Year to help cement team bonding which is already producing results. And Manchester United’s money-men, eager to maximise any opportunity to generate a windfall with the club missing out on revenue from being in Europe, are investigating the possibility of a friendly against high-profile opponents around the sunshine break. One conversation is thought to involve a trip to Saudi Arabia, with a clash against Cristiano Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr mooted as a possible scenario. A game in Qatar has also been discussed, but regardless of whether a match can be arranged or not, it’s understood Amorim is keen to have a mid-winter warm-weather training break in Dubai. Amorim Poised to be Left Short of Attacking Options As a knock-on effect of Hojlund’s departure, Amorim will find himself short in attack in December as the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on December 21. Leading Manchester United goalscorer Mbeumo is set to join up with Cameroon before their opening game against Gabon on Christmas Eve. And if they come through a group stage that also includes games against the Ivory Coast and Mozambique, Cameroon will be confident they can push all the way to the final on January 18. That means the £65million former Brentford striker could potentially miss six games, including the Manchester derby at Old Trafford the day before the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco. The issues surrounding Mbeumo’s absence mean Manchester United have a dilemma over whether to grant Zirkzee’s expected request for a loan move in January. With Hojlund gone, Zirkzee is the Red Devils' main back-up striker, but his lack of game time so far this season has left the Dutch international disappointed. Training ground sources at the club believe he is likely to seek playing time elsewhere in January.
