Erik ten Hag desires memorabilia in his Man United locker room and his new £72 million acquisition. That is checked off by Rasmus Hojlund.

Rasmus Hojlund was thoroughly scouted by Manchester United, and they discovered that he possessed a quality that money can’t buy: personality.

Hojlund cost the club £72 million to acquire from Atalanta, but there was also an understanding that he had the necessary attitude to play for United. The club spent this money because they think he can become one of Europe’s most prolific goal scorers.

The teenage striker appeared to be the ideal fit due to his extreme confidence, unwavering work ethic, and desire to get better, even though not every player can succeed while wearing a red shirt and many have shrunk while competing at Old Trafford.

Hojlund impressed coaches with his desire to hone specific areas of his game during his time at SK Sturm Graz and Atalanta, as well as during his formative years at the F.C. Copenhagen academy.

The forward has never lacked confidence, and scouts found this self-assurance to be endearing. Hojlund has seen a stratospheric climb over the past 20 months, and throughout that time, his confidence must have increased even more.

At this early stage of his career, he was not anticipated to be the subject of a multi-million dollar contract, but the club has placed a long-term wager on Hojund, and although it is risky, it could pay off in the future.

Hojlund will have time to adjust to the Premier League, and his outgoing nature should help him fit in—something Erik ten Hag has openly acknowledged he hopes to bring to the team’s locker room.

Ten Hag wants the people he signs to have personality. Hojlund possesses all of that, and prior coaches have said that he is the kind of athlete whose optimism and gamelike approach can lift everyone’s spirits during practice.

To compete at the highest level, a top striker needs unrestrained self-assurance, and Hojlund should benefit from it during this phase of his career, especially given the pressure that comes with being United’s attack coordinator.

Hojlund was in action for Denmark on Sunday night and after his nation’s 1-0 narrow win against Finland, which took them a step closer to Euro 2024 qualification, his personality was on show again.

With Denmark’s players celebrating with their fans in the corner of the stadium, Hojlund grabbed a megaphone and shouted: “I heard you all game and your passion is everything in football, we are going to the f****** Euros! F****** come on.”

Social media users have praised the video, and backers have quickly pointed out that Hojlund is still only 20 years old. His poise and stature give the impression that he is older than he actually is, and his maturity is striking.

Hojlund has always had a commanding physical presence, and although he occasionally battled to control it when he was younger, this trait makes him ideal for the Premier League’s particular needs.

Anthony Martial made his United debut against Arsenal at the Emirates, and after having the simple task of stopping Anthony Martial, Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes finally realized they were in a game.

It’s cliche to say that Hojlund “put himself about,” but he left a bigger impression in his 20 minutes on the field than Martial did the entire game. If he is deemed well enough to play against Brighton on Saturday, Hojlund should get the start.

The attacking players surrounding him, especially Marcus Rashford, who has had a sluggish start to the season, could benefit from playing with Hojlund because of his link-up play against Arsenal.

In his brief debut off the bench, Hojlund constantly pressured Arsenal’s defensive line, and his eagerness gave United’s performance a much-needed boost of intensity at a key moment when the game’s outcome was still in doubt.

If he starts this weekend, it will be interesting to see what kind of an influence he can have, but regardless of when he scores his first goal for the team, his performances will always be passionate and fully devoted.

Because of his demeanor, Hojlund already has the potential to become a terrace favorite.