Casemiro has come to the defense of Rasmus Hojlund’s slow adaptation to life at Manchester United, shedding light on his exuberant interaction with the striker during the match against Arsenal.
The 20-year-old made a £72 million move from Atalanta to Old Trafford in the summer but has struggled to justify the hefty price tag, scoring only once in 15 Premier League appearances.
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His solitary goal came in the recent match against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, four months after joining, but an illness prevented him from building on that performance in United’s subsequent 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Despite his challenges in finding the net domestically, Hojlund managed to score five times in the Champions League. His overall work rate and tenacity have endeared him to fans and teammates alike.
Casemiro has expressed admiration for his young teammate’s attitude, foreseeing a promising future at the club.
Additionally, he disclosed the reason behind his passionate collar-grabbing and enthusiastic encouragement of Hojlund during the early stages of the season against Arsenal.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Brazilian midfielder said: ‘At the end of the day, he’s just a kid, so we shouldn’t be putting a lot of pressure on him.
‘A lot of people think that he should be coming in and scoring 30-odd goals right away. He’s still young and this is his first season in the Premier League.
‘Regarding the footage you mentioned [when Casemiro grabbed Hojlund by the shirt], I was really happy with his attitude!
‘The thing is, it’s really difficult when you come on in such a demanding game, as games against Arsenal are.
‘When he entered the fray he contributed a lot, changing our dynamic, so I tried to express to him just how I was feeling.
‘He’s definitely playing better in every game and he’s working really hard. Rasmus is a dedicated lad and he’s keen to kick on.
‘He’ll be a great player for this club and, with the ambitions he has, he could define an era at Manchester United.’
Hojlund has recovered from his illness and is poised to make his debut in the FA Cup against Wigan on Monday night. Meanwhile, Casemiro is progressing in his rehabilitation from injury and has resumed training.
