‘Cristiano Ronaldo was my idol growing up’: Rasmus Hojlund reveals he is taking inspiration from the former Man United star who he labels the ‘greatest goalscorer ever’

• Rasmus Hojlund revealed he’s ‘always tried to learn’ from Cristiano Ronaldo
• Man United star is still searching for his first Premier League goal for the club 
• ‘It’s Erik ten Games’ – surely he has to beat Luton now – It’s All Coming Up

Rasmus Hojlund has revealed that he has been taking inspiration from former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo throughout his career.

Hojlund joined United this summer amidst much fanfare, joining from Atalanta for a £72m fee and signing a five-year deal at the club.

Despite being just 20, Hojlund arrived at Old Trafford with the expectation that he would become of the club’s primary outlets in front of goal, with the side lacking in natural goalscorers since Ronaldo’s departure midway through last season.

Born just six months before Sir Alex Ferguson would first bring Ronaldo to United after the then-teenager dazzled the Premier League champions in a pre-season friendly, Hojlund explained he has grown up idolising the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

‘Cristiano has always been like my idol growing up,’ Hojlund told TeamViewer Diaries.

Rasmus Hojlund revealed that he has taken inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo throughout his career

Hojlund added Ronaldo’s famed workrate is the attribute he most admires about the former Man United star

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‘I always thought he was the best football player in the world and I just tried to learn from him.

‘He is the greatest goalscorer ever, probably as well. I’ve always looked at him back in the day where he was more of a dribbler and now he’s a proper, proper goalscorer.

‘You know he had proper talent, but he worked hard to be the best ever and I like that about him.’

Hojlund added that he takes inspiration from Ronaldo’s famed work ethic, noting that he is working tirelessly to continue to develop as a forward during his first season at United.

‘I think there’s a lot of things I can improve, which is, of course, a good thing because then I think I can develop into being an even greater striker than I am now,’ he continued.

‘Hopefully I can just keep learning every day from the guys here, from the games and from the coaching staff.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s second spell at Old Trafford ended acrimoniously last year

Ronaldo’s first-spell at the club began six months after Hojlund was born in 2003

‘In the modern game of football, we need to do the hard pressing as well from the front line. The game is evolving, and I learned that already in my youth years.

‘So I’ve always been used to the pressing part. And like you said, I think it’s one of the things I do well. The boss also wants me and the frontline to put in a shift, so yes it’s good.’

Hojlund has enjoyed a flying start to his United career on the continent, with five goals across four appearances in the Champions League, including a first-half brace in the club’s defeat to Copenhagen on Wednesday.

However, the Denmark international is still searching for his first Premier League goal.

He looked to have opened his account as United played host to Brighton in September, but a subsequent VAR check ruled out the strike after the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.

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