Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has backed teammate Rasmus Hojlund to ‘define an era’ for the Old Trafford club.
Hojlund moved to the Reds for a fee that could rise to £72million over the summer, joining from Italian Serie A outfit Atalanta. United had monitored the likes of Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen as Erik ten Hag looked to bolster his ranks in attack, but ultimately plumped to bring in Hojlund.
However, the 20-year-old is yet to prove himself a consistent goal threat for his new side, bagging just six goals in all competitions so far this season. Five of those goals came during United’s ill-fated Champions League campaign, with the Dane only breaking his Premier League duck with a match-winning goal in the 3-2 victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
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That form had led many to question whether the forward is ready to lead United’s line, but the hugely experienced Casemiro is convinced he can enjoy a long and successful career at Old Trafford.
“At the end of the day, he’s just a kid, so we shouldn’t be putting a lot of pressure on him,” the Brazil midfielder said on the club website. “A lot of people think that he should be coming in and scoring 30-odd goals right away.
“He’s still young and this is his first season in the Premier League.”
Casemiro, who is close to a return from injury, pointed to Hojlund’s debut against Arsenal back in September, when his front-foot approach clearly ruffled the Gunners defence.
“I was really happy with his attitude,” Casemiro said. “The thing is, it’s really difficult when you come on in such a demanding game, as games against Arsenal are.
“When he entered the fray he contributed a lot, changing our dynamic, so I tried to express to him just how I was feeling.
“He’s definitely playing better in every game and he’s working really hard. Rasmus is a dedicated lad and he’s keen to kick on.
“He’ll be a great player for this club and, with the ambitions he has, he could define an era at Manchester United.”
Hojlund missed United’s 2-1 defeat away to Nottingham Forest last time out through illness, but will be available for Monday’s match at the DW Stadium.
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
