Man United deserve a £72m refund as Lisandro Martinez comes to the rescue in narrow Fulham win
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When Manchester United signed Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta back in the summer transfer window of 2023, in a deal worth an overall £72million, the Red Devils were convinced they were signing a diamond in the rough.
Fast-forward 18 months, however, and the Denmark international continues to pale in comparison to the club legends of old.
On Sunday, United travelled to Fulham looking for a return to winning ways in the Premier League after their shambolic 3-1 defeat to Brighton last time out.
Hojlund was benched for that clash, with Joshua Zirkzee picked instead for that clash. It was a similar story against Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night, too.
Man United star Lisandro Martinez celebrates scoring against Fulham on Sunday
REUTERS
This was the Denmark international's big chance to show that he can lead the line and spearhead Ruben Amorim's attack.
Based on this evidence, however, United deserve a refund.
That may seem harsh on Hojlund but the ugly fact is that, after nearly a year-and-a-half in English football, he's failed to score in 36 Premier League matches.
For any No 9, that's a grim statistic. Never mind one with his dizzying price tag and for a player strutting his stuff for arguably the biggest (certainly, not the best), team in the country.
Hojlund and Matthijs de Ligt, who played despite picking up a knock against Rangers, were the first two players to be withdrawn on Sunday night.
It came as no surprise. And Rio Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports at half time, was particularly damning of Hojlund's display.
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"I would be surprised if Rasmus Hojlund wasn't get a few fingers pointed at him - hold the ball up!" he fumed.
"Hojlund is the platform for them to get up the pitch.
"United cannot get any good possession around the final third when their number nine is not able to hold the ball up."
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Man United star Rasmus Hojlund was poor against Fulham on Sunday
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Obviously, Amorim needs backing in the transfer market. They need reinforcements all over the pitch but a new No 9, come the end of the season, has to be a priority.
Amorim, in a dream world, would reunite with Viktor Gyokeres. But the reality is that, the more United lose their status as a footballing superpower, the less likely they are to be pursuing some of the world's best players.
In the end, Hojlund was fortunate that his blushes were spared by Lisandro Martinez.
Man United boss Ruben Amorim will be frustrated by Rasmus Hojlund's poor showing against Fulham
The tenacious Argentine, who managed his team's only shot on target, saw his deflected effort loop over Bernd Leno and into the net.
United were, perhaps, fortunate that Fulham were flat. Neither side, in truth, fully deserved all three points.
But they'll take it. Amorim will take it. He'll know deep down, however, that Hojlund currently doesn't look to be worth the price the club paid for him.
How long he lasts, playing like this, will be fascinating to see.
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