Rasmus Hojlund could have ended up at Milan before his move away from Manchester United, but the striker ultimately rejected the Rossoneri in favour of Napoli due to sporting and contractual guarantee...
Rasmus Hojlund could have ended up at Milan before his move away from Manchester United, but the striker ultimately rejected the Rossoneri in favour of Napoli due to sporting and contractual guarantees.
According to journalist Matteo Moretto, via MilanNews, Milan had put a serious proposal on the table for the Denmark international during talks with Manchester United.
Milan made summer approach for Hojlund before Napoli switch
The Rossoneri offered a paid loan worth €3.5m, with an option to buy set at €35m, a sizeable operation that underlined their interest in reshaping the attack around the Dane.
Despite the financial commitment, negotiations never truly gathered momentum. The decisive factor was not United’s stance, but Hojlund’s own assessment of the move.
NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 07: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli shows his disappointment during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 07, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
The striker carefully evaluated the sporting context and ultimately decided that Milan’s proposal did not fully meet his requirements.
Why did Hojlund snub Milan?
Two elements proved crucial.
First, Hojlund was determined to continue playing in the Champions League, a competition he views as essential for his development and international profile.
Secondly, he wanted clear guarantees over a permanent transfer rather than a deal dependent on conditions or future negotiations.
Napoli were able to offer exactly that.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli shoots during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The Partenopei moved with greater conviction, presenting Hojlund with a defined technical project and firm assurances over the buy clause, which proved decisive.
Milan are left with some regret over an ambitious move that fell apart due to the player’s demands rather than a lack of intent from the club.
Category: General Sports
