Man Utd star shares true feelings on Rasmus Hojlund's exit: "A shock"

Patrick Dorgu has revealed that Rasmus Hojlund's late departure from Manchester United came as a shock. Hojlund, 22, completed a season-long loan move to Napoli on transfer deadline day, having spent two years with the Red Devils.

United have banked a loan fee of £5.2m and the Danish striker will join for Napoli on a permanent basis for £38m next summer if the Serie A winners qualify for the Champions League. Hojlund became surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after United shelled out an initial £66.3m plus £7.3m in add-ons for fellow striker Benjamin Sesko, who immediately usurped him in the pecking order.

Ruben Amorim said that he was 'really happy' with Hojlund in pre-season, and the 22-year-old stated during the Red Devils' tour of the USA that he wasn't planning on leaving. But when it became clear that Sesko was going to sign and Joshua Zirkzee would be his backup, the writing was on the wall for Hojlund.

Initially, the former Atalanta hotshot wasn't convinced about the move to Napoli - even reportedly harbouring reservations when he landed in Italy for his medical last weekend. After signing on the dotted line, Hojlund returned home to Denmark for international duty.

There, he met up with Dorgu. The United wing-back has spoken about Hojlund's departure, comparing it to that of Christian Eriksen after his contract with the Red Devils expired in June.

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"That's how it is in football. You never know when it's your turn to move on," Dorgu told Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet. "We knew it would happen to Christian, but it was perhaps a bigger shock that Rasmus had to move on.

"I talked to him a lot during the process and could sense which way it was going. Hopefully, we will now see each other every time on the national team."

Dorgu, speaking ahead of Denmark's World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Friday, appreciated his compatriots' company when he joined United in January, but he's ready to be independent and lives alone in Manchester. "I have been very happy to be team-mates with Christian and Rasmus," the left-sided defender continued.

Will Rasmus Hojlund be a success at Napoli? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

"It was a big plus for me that they were at the club when I joined. That way it was easier to become part of the squad. But it was in no way decisive for my choice of Manchester United. I was thinking much more about the coach’s plans and ideas with me when I had to make the decision.

"I travelled alone to Italy when I was 17. I am also alone in Manchester and I am fine that way. You become incredibly strong mentally when you travel alone so early, because you have to make a lot of decisions. I am sure that mental strength has also helped me on the pitch."

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