Chicago, July 31 – Rasmus Højlund has declared he has no intention of backing down at Manchester United, insisting he is ready to fight for his place in the team amid increasing speculation linking the club with a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško.
Following a standout performance in pre-season — capped by his first goal of the summer in a 4-1 win over Bournemouth in Chicago — the 22-year-old Dane was quick to assert his desire to stay at Old Trafford and embrace any competition for the No.9 role.
“Does anyone want to talk to me?” Højlund quipped when speaking to reporters after the match. “The club has told me nothing so far [about my future]. The most important thing for me is just to keep working hard and stay focused, and then obviously we’ll see what happens. My plan is very clear, and that is for me to stay and fight for my spot, whatever happens.”
Højlund, who arrived at United last summer in a £72 million deal, endured an up-and-down debut campaign but believes he has turned a corner — physically and mentally. He says the prospect of fresh competition does not faze him, and actually drives him to improve.
“Competition is fine with me, it sharpens me. I’m more than ready. I’m feeling sharp, so I’m welcoming everything that comes,” he said. “It’s good with competition, and it only sharpens the team. When I came to the club, Anthony Martial was there as well. He had a lot of injuries, so I had to take a lot of the game time.”
The Dane reflected on the physical toll of that first season, admitting he could have used more support during a congested fixture list. “That’s just part of it, and you’re not going to tell me that I shouldn’t be playing because I want to play every game. But I could have done with some help in terms of sharing the games a bit, especially at the beginning.”
Now, with a year of Premier League experience under his belt, Højlund says he feels “matured” and ready to lead the line once again. “I feel like I’ve matured a lot, and I feel like I’m ready for what’s coming,” he said.
The 22-year-old also urged patience from fans and critics alike, pointing out that few strikers hit their peak so early. “I’m definitely convinced I can deliver goals for this team. I’m still very young. People forget that sometimes. I’m only 22. Not every striker is scoring 100 goals at the age of 22. But I’ve learned a lot, I think you can see in my game.”
With United actively pursuing Šeško, and attacking reinforcements expected before the window shuts, Højlund’s message is clear: he’s not going anywhere — and he’s ready for the fight.
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