A shooting star for Manchester United

Rasmus Højlund is a footballer on the rise. In the space of three seasons, the Danish forward has gone from an unspectacular start to his career at FC Copenhagen, to big-money Manchester United signing. With United in acute need of a frontman and Paris Saint-Germain also interested, the 20-year-old moved from Atalanta to Old Trafford for £72m. Only 18 months ago, he was on the move for £1.5m.

Højlund at United is an intriguing prospect, given his style of play and the stage of his career. He made his debut for Copenhagen at the age of 17 in October 2020, and hadn’t scored a Danish league goal in 19 appearances when Sturm Graz cannily took him to Austria in January 2022. There he scored 12 times in 21 games to catch Atalanta’s eye. He made the €17m move to Italy just seven months later.

Højlund scored nine in 32 Serie A appearances in 2022/23, averaging a goal every 204 minutes to help Atalanta finish fifth and gaining wider recognition along the way. He made his first start for Denmark in March 2023, exploding on to the scene with a hat-trick in a 3–1 Euro qualifying win against Finland. He followed that up with two against Kazakhstan three days later, and a sixth international goal to earn his side a 1-1 draw away to Slovenia in June.

The cat was out of the bag, and Højlund made headlines as Manchester United's prime centre-forward transfer target. Prior to the 2023/24 season kick off, our coaching experts analysed his position and style of play…

Technical analysis

Højlund is a left-footed centre-forward with a poacher’s mindset. He looks to own the spaces inside the penalty area and finish as close to the six-yard box as possible. The Manchester United striker is confident when attacking crosses, often hiding from opponents inside the box and ready to finish first time from low, wide deliveries (below).

Højlund can also create shooting opportunities from range, and possesses enough power to work attempts on goal without requiring significant backlift. He adjusts his body well to adapt to the angle and speed of the ball, while still generating power. 

Strength

The Dane shows desire to get in the penalty area for crosses, cut-backs, through balls or any second phase ball. He makes clever movements to receive inside the box from through balls, and has the pace to run in behind while holding off his opponent. His upper-body strength allows him to receive across the body while moving forward, ensuring his direct opponent doesn’t intercept. As he progresses forward, he can then stop his marker from stepping around and blocking attempts on goal. He is particularly effective on the last line when receiving across his body to his left side, with a defender on his right shoulder (below). 

His clever movements often involve making a run for his marker, then a second run in the opposite direction, such as when he attacks crosses. He is flexible enough to attack in front of his opponent or on the blindside, and is most effective when positioned away from the defender’s eyeline.

Receiving

Further away from goal, Højlund moves well to receive on the angle, especially within the inside channels. Here he looks to receive diagonal balls, especially those played from a wide teammate (below). He moves fast and late across the centre-back, holding up play and pinning his man. 

The Atalanta forward links well with forward runners, taking a tight first touch to draw his man before playing a teammate in as they run ahead. He also holds the ball up for longer periods to help teammates catch up with play, or when passing options are screened or tracked. He takes more touches when looking to maintain possession and shift momentum in the match. 

His hold-up play is weakest when he plays off one touch and is aggressively pressed from behind, or tightly marked. In these situations, he has shown a tendency to either misplace passes, or maintain possession but at the expense of a fast attack.

Single central forward 

Højlund has operated as a single central forward in Atalanta’s usual 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formations. As the main focal point of the attack, he pins and secures the ball with inward support from the two number 10s, or the wide attackers rolling inside (below). Atalanta’s wide combinations are extremely fluid under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with the number 10s often rotating with the wing-backs, giving Højlund similar support through the inside channels. 

As a single central forward under Gasperini, the Dane drifts either side and makes channel runs across the opposing back line. With two number 10s – either Mario Pasalic, Ademola Lookman, the now departed Jérémie Boga or Teun Koopmeiners - Højlund has had support for close combinations, and responsibility for holding the play to launch counter-attacks from deep. His connections with the advancing wing-backs, when they hold the width, are also much more evident in this particular shape.

Central-forward pairing

Højlund has also impressed when working with another strike partner. Gasperini has played a 3-4-1-2, pairing the 20-year-old with another centre-forward and a supporting 10 underneath. In this system he has operated on one side and is unable to run across the back line as often, with Duván Zapata or Luis Muriel occupying the other centre-back.

In this set-up he operates best when receiving to his left side, going through the inside channel, ready to shoot across goal. Alternatively, he can cross low for his centre-forward teammate, or cut the ball back for the number 10. Being paired with another central forward allows him to focus more on his own runs in behind. Zapata or Muriel can pin and secure the ball, allowing him to run in behind.

His combinations with the wing-back come on his side of the pitch. With wing-backs advancing, Atalanta often attack down the sides while maintaining a diamond shape. The number 10 works both sides, while the closest of the double pivot supports at the base, with one of Højlund, Zapata or Muriel at the highest point (see below).

Here, the Manchester United signing can combine inwards – using his centre-forward teammate to progress centrally – connect with wide overlaps, or use his deeper supporting teammates to work the ball wide. This has often ended with Højlund running on the blindside of his marker, and Atalanta’s other centre-forward working a cut-back or ball across the opposing defence. 

Prospects

There is no doubt that Højlund's movement and adaptation around centre-forward partners is an impressive part of his game. At Manchester United, he has the opportunity to dovetail with top-class attacking talent. The young Dane has the potential to play at that level, but is still developing. Whether a move to Old Trafford will turn out to be the best fit for both parties at this stage of his career, time will tell. 

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Author: The Coaches' Voice