2 weeks ago
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Could surpass Beckham deal
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Rasmus Højlund is set to return to Serie A. On deadline day, Manchester United have agreed to loan the Danish striker for €6 million to Napoli. That loan deal includes a conditional obligation to buy that could see the entire package of the deal grow to €44m. According to a report by The Athletic, the deal would become permanent if Napoli qualify for the Champions League this season. In case of a permanent transfer, Højlund would become the fifth most expensive sale in Manchester United’s club history, surpassing club legend David Beckham.
Manchester United have been looking to sell Højlund this summer, following the acquisition of Benjamin Sesko in a transfer worth an initial €76.5m from RB Leipzig. Initially, Højlund stated that he wanted to stay at United and fight for a role in the squad. With Sesko signed, the Danish striker was left out of Ruben Amorim’s squad for the first three matchdays this season. The writing, therefore, has been clearly on the wall that United are no longer planning with the 22-year-old.
As a result, Højlund has finally agreed on a move. Indeed, interest in the striker was high this summer. Among the clubs interested in signing the physically imposing forward were Atalanta, AC Milan, RB Leipzig, and Newcastle United. Napoli, however, offered the most compelling package. Furthermore, the Serie A club have the money after selling Victor Osimhen on a permanent deal to Galatasaray for €70m this summer. With Osimhen gone, Højlund should be guaranteed significant playing time in what will be a World Cup year.
Højlund to Napoli – Can he regain his form in Italy?
Overall, this appears to be a beneficial move for all parties involved. Højlund will be off Man Utd’s books, and Napoli will finally have a replacement for Osimhen. With Højlund in the squad, Napoli will likely be among the top teams in Italy once again, making Champions League qualification a realistic goal, which would facilitate a permanent transfer. Højlund, in the meantime, will return to a league that made him a star in the first place.
Signed from Sturm Graz by Atalanta for €21m ahead of the 2022/23 season, Højlund managed nine goals and four assists in 32 Serie A games for the Bergamo club. It was enough for Man Utd to pay €77.8m for the 22-year-old. However, Højlund never established himself in England and will now aim to regain his goalscoring form while playing for Antonio Conte at a highly competitive Napoli club.
