The goalscoring burden which Rasmus Hojlund shouldered at Manchester United was too much for the 30-cap Denmark international and Benjamin Sesko’s arrival saw him fall down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim. When he made the big-money move in 2023, Harry Kane was also on the radar of the Red Devils; but a move for a younger yet less experienced Hojlund was green lit by the club’s decision-makers.
With Romelu Lukaku injured and minutes not readily available at Old Trafford for Hojlund, a temporary move to Napoli beckoned for the 22-year-old. Things started well for the Copenhagen academy graduate and the typical ‘Are Manchester United the actual problem?’ discourse arose.
Signed by former United chief Erik ten Hag, it seems as if the 2003-born centre-forward has no future under the guidance of Amorim – widely regarded as one of the best young managers in world football – and his entourage. In 95 appearances for the Red Devils, he plundered 32 goal contributions (26 goals and a further six assists).
What didn’t help his development, though, was being thrust into the deep end and – at such a tender age – Hojlund was expected to carry United through a difficult period. Even the most seasoned of strikers would’ve faced obstacles; but it was all too much for a player in the embryonic stages of his career. He, therefore, decided to move on.
After a Terrific Start, Hojlund’s Life at Napoli Goes South
The Old Trafford spotlight (for some) is too bright, and it was a superb start to life for Hojlund in Italy – but months into his new adventure, and he’s experiencing another one of his goal droughts. Predictably, he scored on his competitive debut – a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina – and then bagged twice in their Champions League win over Sporting CP.
For what it’s worth: his last club strike came in early October as he scored in his side’s 2-1 win over Genoa.
Copenhagen-born Hojlund’s most recent display – in Napoli’s 2-0 away defeat to high-flying Bologna – was perhaps his worst since his switch. Becoming one of world football’s deadliest marksmen is on the cards for the promising centre-forward, but there is plenty of fine-tuning needed before he is even mentioned in said conversations.
The United loanee failed to have a shot on target, he lost an eye-catching 13 duels – the most of any player on the pitch – in his side’s 2-0 loss and just two of his 43 touches came inside the Bologna box. Just one of his four (25%) attempted dribbles resulted in success and, all in all, he struggled in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.
“Yeah, nearly 300 minutes without a goal for Napoli. [Massimo] Pessina comes in, Bologna’s third-string goalkeeper, and they don’t even test him,” a pundit said on CBS Sports. “They don’t look good; [Rasmus] Hojlund struggled big time up front, and they are different team without [Romelu] Lukaku, that’s for sure.”
The CBS Sports panel continued to wax lyrical about Vincenzo Italiano’s well-drilled Bologna side as footage of Hojlund – alongside his bereft teammates – showed them walking towards the dressing room. With the Dane on the screen, the presenter continued: “The real story is Napoli right now, it’s all catching up to them.
“The last three games, they’ve been so toothless in the attack,” he said before questioning Hojlund’s link-up play. “Hojlund’s hold-up play, his first touch, I think is not good enough. So, I’m hoping Lukaku comes back soon because you’d think he’s the clear bang-on starter if everyone is healthy. And it’s a bit of a shame because they spent a lot of money on Hojlund.”
Conte Praised Hojlund, Who is Expected to Join Napoli On a Permanent Deal
Earlier in October, GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Fabrizio Romano revealed that United figures are of the belief that Hojlund will permanently depart in the summer of 2026 – with Naples being his most likely destination. Antonio Conte‘s side have the option to turn the marksman’s move permanently – and it will cost them £38 million.
That, of course, is dependent on whether certain conditions are met. Napoli, the defending champions of Italy, are required to qualify for the Champions League – which, barring anything unforeseen, is viewed as a given.
A return to Old Trafford – especially on the basis that Amorim’s men welcomed the likes of Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to their ranks over the summer – is all but off the cards. “There is an obligation to buy, and I can tell you that Manchester United are quite convinced that the obligation to buy will be triggered for Rasmus Hojlund,” Romano said.
“Hojlund is expected to stay at Napoli. Hojlund is fully expected to be a Napoli player on a permanent transfer from Manchester United.”
Rasmus Hojlund’s 25/26 Serie A Stats vs Napoli Squad
Metric
Output
Squad Rank
Minutes
512
11th
Goals
2
2nd=
Shots per Match
0.9
9th
Key Passes per Match
0.4
15th
Pass Success Rate (%)
80.4
20th
Dribbles per Match
0.4
9th
Aerials Won per Match
1
8th
Overall Rating
6.51
12th
Incredibly, the Napoli boss was far from critical about Hojlund’s recent display against Bologna. “He was perhaps the best player on the pitch. He held his ground and fought. We should have supported him more,” he said while speaking to Tuttomercato Web, referencing the fact that he received a yellow card while tussling for the ball with Lewis Ferguson.
The goals, despite an early barrage of strikes, have obviously dried up for Hojlund – and Lukaku returning to the fold soon could spell trouble for the Dane, who is a one-time winner of the FA Cup with his former Premier League employers. That said, all it could take is for him to find his groove against lesser opposition for him to burst into life for a second time.
All statistics per WhoScored – correct as of 10/11/2025
The 2026 World Cup brought the United States into the limelight on the global sporting stage, but football (or soccer) is far from the main event when it comes to viewership.
As a nation, the revenue they generate across all sports makes up around 40 per cent of the global total, and the demand is certainly there.
Having a monopoly on American Football, baseball and basketball makes them among the favourites, but the rise in attention for football is the biggest upwards trend in recent years.
With that in mind, we’ve ranked the most popular sports in America from the latest data available, ranked in terms of popularity from a study by The Economist.
8
Golf (2%)
Ranking at the bottom of a study by The Economist (2%) asking fans for their favourite sport, it reflects the general interest in the sport across the world. Whilst the PGA Tour is regularly screened and spoken about, peaking around The Ryder Cup and other majors, the numbers show it has struggled to gain ground.
A report from Gallup shows it has been in a battle with tennis over the years at the lower end, and L.E.K. Consulting suggests one reason may be that it is not attracting younger viewers, with 30+ being the target audience.
7
Boxing/MMA (3%)
Dana White‘s UFC has been at the forefront of combat sports for two decades, reaching peak popularity in the mid 2010s. A lack of superstar profiles has seen it dip in recent years, but there remains huge interest both in the US and globally, and the recent White House card brought significant traction.
For Boxing, the decline has been steady. Years gone by saw global sensations such as Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr draw incredible interest.
Nowadays, there are no American heavyweight contenders, and whilst there are incredible fighters such as Shakur Stevenson, Jaron Ennis and, until recently, Terence Crawford, none can match that star power.
Some of the greatest fighters in combat sports history have graced the UFC Octagon…
6
Tennis (3%)
REUTERS
Whilst the US Open is a significant competition, Tennis in America has struggled to capture significant attention. Ben Shelton may be the fan favourite, but gone are the likes of the Williams sisters, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and even Andy Roddick. It sits slightly above Boxing, MMA and Golf but is unlikely to break Ice Hockey or Football anytime soon.
5
Ice Hockey (4%)
The National Hockey League sits outside the elite sports in America and has seemingly maintained a consistent fanbase, according to Gallup. Its share from 2004 to 2023 held firm at around four percent across that period.
However, there are contrasting figures from different studies. The headline is that casual interest is up, but avid fans are down. The Seton Hall Sports Poll showed the largest growth in popularity from 2022 to 2026, up six points, but L.E.K. reported fewer avid fans in general, falling eight percent.
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World Cup History Quiz
You scored
out of 20
4
Baseball (9%)
Traditionally a fan favorite, it has seemingly been overtaken, slightly, by football’s rise. Major League Baseball has historically contended for the second most adored sport with basketball, with Gallup showing that in eight readings between 2004 and 2023, it had the edge at four and tied with another.
L.E.K. revealed that MLB is more popular with fans over 30 than the younger 18–29 demographic. Given the slower nature of the game, it favors older fans, who also like Golf and College Football, with younger audiences less likely to view full games.
Figures from The Economist show football captured 10% of fans’ favourite sport in the study, edging out baseball into third place. Increased TV coverage, the arrival of star names and more infrastructure have all contributed. The rise has skyrocketed thanks to Lionel Messi‘s arrival in the MLS, with Inter Miami a home for former European stars.
With the World Cup enhancing that further, and Mauricio Pochettino‘s current impact, expect it to grow.
Now that Lionel Messi has joined Inter Miami, GIVEMESPORT ranks the 20 greatest players in MLS history
2
Basketball (17%)
Dustin Safranek via Imagn Images
The National Basketball Association has always been amongst the most popular due to the global superstars that consistently bring eyes to the sport. It scores incredibly well with younger fans, and the Knicks‘ recent title — their first in 53 years — brought about interest globally that became a cultural phenomenon.
One area growing the quickest is the WNBA, with L.E.K. showing a 65% year-over-year increase in avid fandom. It remains the fastest growing sport according to their figures.
Any data found on US sports points to one conclusion: American Football is untouchable. The National Football League sits alone at the top of the entire sports landscape. The Super Bowl annually ranks as the biggest sporting event on the US calendar, and draws high viewing figures for the entirety of the games, according to L.E.K.
Only one area has stood out: its avid fan level is lower in the 18-29 range, with younger fans opting for NBA and UFC — but, overall, it reigns supreme.
Fans Favourite Sports in the United States (The Economist 2024 Study)
UFC 329 is right around the corner, and it is set to be a classic. Paddy Pimblett‘s face-off with Benoit Saint-Denis catches the eye, but the event that will steal the headlines is undoubtedly Conor McGregor‘s return to the Octagon as he comes up against Max Holloway at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada on the 11th of July.
McGregor will be ending a five-year hiatus, having not fought since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The Irishman and Holloway have history as well, having fought back in 2013 when the former won via decision. That meeting, however, was at featherweight, whereas, Saturday’s fight will be at welterweight.
It is a fight between the man with the second-most featherweight UFC title wins in Holloway (five) versus the man with the joint-third-most in McGregor (two). With the Irishman being 37 and out of the sport for the past five years, though, Holloway is heavily tipped to win the bout.
However, there are some within the game who give McGregor a good chance.
Jose Aldo Previews Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway
Jose Aldo celebrates UFC win
Jose Aldo has weighed in on the upcoming fight, and given he was knocked out in 13 seconds by ‘The Notorious’ back in 2015, there are few who know what McGregor is capable of quite like Aldo.
That experience might be why, unlike many, the Brazilian believes the Irishman has a decent chance at victory, despite the fact he has been out on the sidelines for five years while his opponent has faced, and beaten, some of the world’s best. Having said that, though, Aldo is still predicting Holloway to come away with the victory this weekend.
Speaking to Covers.com, Aldo said: “For me, it’s a very competitive fight. McGregor may be the betting underdog, but honestly, I think he has a better chance of beating Max today than he had of beating Khabib back then.
“The favourite is Max Holloway, not because he’s vastly superior, but because he’s still active. He’s fighting regularly, coming off strong performances, and staying in competition mode. Conor is an unknown quantity. We haven’t seen him fight in a very long time. We don’t know where his conditioning, timing, or confidence are at. That’s why I put Max one step ahead.”
However, ‘Scarface’ was quick to make clear that McGregor cannot be ruled out.
“That doesn’t mean Conor can’t go in there and knock [Max] out,” Aldo continued. “That can absolutely happen. And it wouldn’t be any disgrace for Max because Conor is still a world-class striker with experience, power, and the technical tools to win any fight.
“So I have Max slightly ahead, but I’m a long way from saying Conor has no chance. The biggest question right now is simply which version of McGregor is going to show up on fight night.”
Holloway and Aldo have a storied past too, with the American coming out victorious in their back-to-back fights in 2017, which effectively toppled the Brazilian’s era at the peak of the featherweight division.
On Holloway, Aldo said: “He’s an extremely intelligent fighter, with very refined boxing, great fight IQ, and an excellent ability to absorb shots. Today, he’s not exactly the same fighter he was years ago because he’s been through a lot of wars during his career. But he’s still an exceptional fighter.”
ESPN have taken a look into the most dominant countries in MMA today, including the UFC and PFL, and have put together a top 10 list.
Holloway’s and McGregor’s careers have diverged over the past five years. The former has remained a dedicated fighter who has taken down some of the best. The latter, conversely, has dealt with a major injury and spent a lot of time partying. But, as Aldo was keen to point out, McGregor and his legacy cannot be ruled out.
Legends aren’t invented, they’re forged, and Conor McGregor has forged out one of the most legendary careers in the sport. All eyes will be on him this Saturday.
The Roberto De Zerbi overhaul is well under way at Tottenham, with six new signings already arriving at the club.
Martin Dubravka, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali have all been welcomed into the fold in the white half of north London and the Lilywhites are showing no signs of letting up in their big-money business just yet.
But with lots of incoming traffic there is an expectation that a number of current players will have to depart too and only Yves Bissouma – at the end of his contract – and Alejo Veliz have left as yet.
But that is about to change with a young player now set to leave the club too.
Alfie Devine signed for Spurs as a 15-year-old back in 2020 but has only made two first-team appearances, scoring once in the win over non-league side Marine in the FA Cup in 2021.
Now he looks set to depart the club, six years on from signing, as he makes the move to Preston North End on a permanent deal.
