Man Utd told summer sale has already suffered 'nightmare' start to season

Man Utd learn summer sale has already suffered 'nightmare' start to season Make us your Google favourite Manchester United have learned Rasmus Hojlund has suffered a “nightmare” start to the season after leaving Old Trafford on a permanent basis. The Red Devils pocketed €44million (£37.7m) from Napoli in July after the Serie A club turned Hojlund’s loan move into a permanent transfer. Napoli felt compelled to buy Hojlund after he fired them to Champions League qualification last season, scoring 16 goals under Antonio Conte. However, United have now been told the Denmark international is struggling to repeat those heroics under new Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri. While Hojlund has scored twice in six Serie A games this season, Gazzetta dello Sport says those goals have come from just 15 touches in the box. Gazzetta reporter Vincenzo D’Angelo writes: “What was once a dream now risks turning into a nightmare. Life is tough for anyone who wants to be a striker in Naples. “For information, just ask Rasmus Hojlund, profession: forward, main skill: ‘attacking in behind’. But for the past two seasons, the Dane has seen little of that depth and even less of the goal area. “Under Conte, he started a path of “Lukakization” (Romelu Lukaku), meaning playing with his back to goal and mainly serving as a target man for his teammates. “With Allegri, things initially seemed different: there’s more freedom to move and chances to run in behind, as Hojlund himself mentioned in an interview with Gazzetta. “Too bad, though, that Napoli’s attacking play is going through a worrying decline. And, of course, this primarily affects the Danish number 19.” Hojlund is not getting enough service at Napoli - Gazzetta Napoli are currently ninth after winning just two of their opening six games in Serie A, suffering two losses and with just seven goals to their name. “Hojlund has barely touched the ball 15 times in the penalty area in these first six official games of the season,” D’Angelo added. “Not much at all, compared to the main strikers of the other big teams. Lautaro (Martinez) is at 48 touches, (Donyell) Malen at 47, thanks also to the offensive setup of Inter and Roma: more than three times Rasmus’s number, basically. “And (Anastasios) Douvikas at Como and (Randal) Kolo Muani with Juve have played twice as many balls as Rasmus (31). “The trend and the course need to be reversed. And it has to start right from the attack: without goals, there’s neither hope nor ambition.” Hojlund will look to use the international break with Denmark to raise his confidence ahead of Napoli returning to action against Frosinone on Saturday, 10 October. The 23-year-old joined United from Atalanta for an initial €74.5m (£64m) in July 2023 and scored just 26 goals in 95 games, having also struggled for service at Old Trafford. Man Utd have also made worrying start to the new season Man Utd meanwhile are going through their own struggles at the moment after winning just two of their first seven games of 2026-27. The boss has had his say on today's draw at Fulham 🗣️ — Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 20, 2026 United are winless in three having suffered losses against Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion, while they needed a late goal to draw with Fulham. The 20-time league champions return to action on Saturday, 10 October when they entertain struggling Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.