Atalanta are in an ideal position to keep hold of Rasmus Hojlund for at least one more season, as Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain can wait, writes Susy Campanale.
It was always evident that Inter would sell Andre Onana in the end, as they needed that profit to drive the rest of their transfer strategy for this summer, but La Dea are in a very different situation when it comes to Hojlund. This is perhaps the best-run club in Italy, it regularly churns out new talents and sells them on at a profit, still getting results thanks to the combination of an extraordinary youth academy and the stability of coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s seven-year reign, practically unheard of in Serie A.
Hojlund is also not the usual Atalanta starlet. He is not a product of their academy, but became one of the most expensive signings in their history, arriving from Sturm Graz last summer at a cost of €17.2m. That means they might need more than a year to let him truly flourish and pump that transfer value up even more. Considering his potential at the age of 20, the €60m asking price is more than fair.
It is true that the Dane scored 10 goals in 34 games for Atalanta, but he also only started 20 of those matches between Serie A and the Coppa Italia. This is the season where he will get the opportunity to lead the line and play in the Europa League as well. It is all valuable experience for such a young striker who after all has spent his career challenging in lesser leagues or for mid-table in Italy. A sudden leap to Manchester United or PSG after just one year or not even being first choice in Bergamo might not be the best thing for his development.
The comparisons to Erling Haaland are inevitable, especially when Hojlund decided to bleach his hair, and he could learn from the Norwegian’s path. Haaland could easily have gone straight to Real Madrid or even Manchester City from RB Salzburg in 2020, but opted for Borussia Dortmund first to get more experience and regular playing time under his belt. There is no need to rush these things and Atalanta is an ideal place to grow.
There are also some differences in playing style, because while Haaland is more about power and height, Hojlund is remarkably quick for his build and has a remarkable change of pace to run at defenders from deep. He has that natural striker’s instinct to be in the right place at the right time but has to improve his aerial ability and how to lead the line by himself. Not a single goal scored for Atalanta has been a header, and considering the number of crosses they put in, that is a concern. There are matches where he can seem isolated as the centre-forward and playing in Serie A is the perfect place for a striker to learn how to shake off tight defending.
There is so much potential around Hojlund, who only turned 20 in February, and it would be a pity to rush through his progress after just one year with Atalanta. He would benefit from another season in Italy and La Dea don’t need the money. If Manchester City were prepared to wait for Haaland, then United can do the same with the Dane.
Twitter: @SusyCampanale