Rasmus Højlund has been all over the Italian media over the past couple of weeks, although it’s gone a little quiet today.
The general theme has been that Inter Milan are keen on signing the striker and would be looking for a loan with an option to buy, which could become an obligation under certain circumstances. Nearly all the reports have insisted the Manchester United player is keen on the move.
The 22-year-old is currently away with Denmark, and he’s been speaking to his country’s media about his current situation and reports around his future.
Ekstra Bladet quote the Manchester United player as saying: “I have a contract until 2030, so I expect to play for Manchester United. I’m looking forward to going on a summer vacation, and then I’m fully dedicated to the project that’s underway.”
Asked specifically about the Inter Milan claims and whether he’s aware of what’s being written about him, Højlund said: “No. As I’ve told you before, I try to stay away from all that, because it’s both for better and for worse these days.
“I know I can’t get much out of reading things. I know what the facts are, and that is that I have a contract with Manchester United until 2030. I expect to play there, so I’m just getting ready for some summer vacation and then hopefully a good preseason.”
Denmark beat Northern Ireland 2-1 in a friendly on Saturday, with Højlund starting the game but coming off after 66 minutes. The Manchester United player put in a poor display, with Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet rating his performance at only 2/10.
After the match, Denmark manager Brian Riemer defended his player, taking responsibility for the poor start to the match.
Ekstra Bladet quote him as saying: “I’m super upset for Rasmus. It was planned that he could have had a nice first half, but when you stand as one 9, and Damsgaard ends up standing too wide, so we suddenly lack a lot of points around Rasmus, he becomes isolated, and then the match ends as it does.
“It’s a bit on my shoulders. I should have been better at fixing it in the first half. It was difficult for him, and it wasn’t what we had hoped for.”
On his own performance, the player himself said: “It will always be up for discussion. I have high demands on myself, and I would have liked to have handled some balls a little better than I did.
“Then you can always talk about how someone should have been closer and so on, but generally I take it on my own shoulders. Now I have played 25 international matches, have a lot of experience and play for one of the world’s biggest clubs, so I also think I have to do better.”
Rasmus Højlund certainly needs that vacation after a very difficult few months have left his confidence shattered.
