Rasmus Hojlund’s move to Napoli on deadline day was the biggest indicator of Man Utd’s newfound ruthlessness, but that tie is not as permanently cut as first believed.
Man Utd loaned Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli for a loan fee of around £5.2 million, with the option to make it permanent for about £38 million.
The option becomes an obligation if Napoli qualify for the Champions League, which, for the defending Serie A champions, is the minimum expectation.
Thus, it was widely believed that Hojlund’s race at Old Trafford is run, with the player also sounding like someone who has moved on. However, there is a hidden detail that complicates things.
Photo by SSC NAPOLI/SSC NAPOLI via Getty ImagesRasmus Hojlund’s Napoli loan key detail
When it comes to loan moves, Man Utd fans have already been burned once when Chelsea happily paid a £5m penalty clause to not buy Jadon Sancho.
It turned a potential £25m windfall into a ridiculous transfer saga that ended with another deadline day loan for the player.
Hojlund’s loan to Napoli, which looked like a matter of when, and not if, it is made permanent, could go the same way.
Fabrizio Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, said that the broader details of the agreement that have been reported until now are correct, but one detail has gone under the radar.
Not only do Napoli have to qualify for the Champions League, but Hojlund also needs to play a certain number of games for that option to turn into an obligation to buy.
Romano said: “I wanted to mention something on [Hojlund] to clarify the numbers of the deal, as there was confusion in the final days.
“Manchester United received £5.2 million paid immediately, plus coverage of the salary of Hojlund for this season. [Napoli] will have a buy option close to £38 million.
“This buy option clause can become mandatory based on Napoli qualifying for the Champions League. And then on the appearances of the player. So there is a number of appearances that have to be guaranteed in order for Napoli to trigger the buy obligation for Hojlund.
“Man United are quite confident about that because the player also wants to move on a permanent transfer, not a loan.”
Appearance clause complicates Hojlund deal
While Romano said that all parties are relaxed about the agreement and expect the deal to become permanent next season, things are no longer as simple as that.
For starters, Napoli came into the picture for Hojlund in the first place because Romelu Lukaku picked up an injury that rules him out for about two to three months.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect that Hojlund has joined Napoli as a backup for Lukaku, thereby limiting his appearances.
Then, there’s the situation of Lorenzo Lucca, a typical Antonio Conte striker who also joined just this summer, and will fight Hojlund for minutes immediately.
In the worst-case scenario, Hojlund becomes the third choice at Napoli by November.
Finally, let’s consider the finances, which are not in Hojlund’s favour either. The buy option worth £38 million alone would make him the third most expensive player in Napoli history.
If the loan fee is added, then he becomes the second most expensive, on par with Hirving Lozano, with only Victor Osimhen’s move from Lille ahead of him.
Would Napoli really feel comfortable spending that money on a player who, as it stands, could be third-choice at his position?
All of this can only be avoided if Hojlund makes himself undeniable, especially in the next three months or so when Lukaku is on the sidelines.
Otherwise, United could be looking at a scenario where they are preparing for an awkward reunion, much like Sancho this summer.