'Fly to something bigger' - Rasmus Hojlund was always destined for the top ahead of Manchester United transfer

Rasmus Hojlund’s first manager always felt the young striker was destined for big things.

The 20-year-old has completed his medical ahead of a proposed £72m move to Manchester United. It has been a busy few years for the Denmark international, who will be joining the fourth club of his burgeoning career.

After spending just over six months with Sturm Graz, his performances convinced Atalanta to stump up €17 million last summer and he rewarded his new side with 14 goal involvements. Hojlund began his career at boyhood club FC Copenhagen, making 32 appearances overall, but boss Jess Thorup never expected to hold on to the talented teenager for too long.

READ: Rasmus Hojlund completes Manchester United medical

When asked whether it was the right decision to allow Hojlund to leave for Austria in January 2022, Thorup told Danish outlet Footy, “I think it's fantastic when we send some of our players on, that they become very successful.

“It is also part of the project and the culture to bring up our own youngsters, and when the time is right, they must either join the team or fly on to something bigger, like (Mohamed) Daramy, who unfortunately does not play that much in Ajax, but that it was also time for him to move on.”

Hojlund was still only 18 when moved to Sturm Graz but immediately proved to be a €1.8 million bargain, scoring 12 goals in 21 games during his short spell in Austria. Rather than feeling regret over Hojlund succeeding elsewhere, the then Copenhagen boss was merely excited that his former prodigy was getting regular minutes, something he hadn’t been able to achieve with his hometown side.

“I just think it's fantastic that we can hatch such talents who can also do well in a league like the Austrian