A genuine buzz. That’s what I noticed being around and interviewing Rasmus Hojlund on his first day as a Manchester United player.
It was a real privilege to chat with our new centre-forward. There we were, two fans of the club, honoured to be doing what we love. And that was an undoubted truth. I think, as supporters, we can tell when someone is authentic in their passion for United, and I felt Rasmus was.
With only a couple of years between us in age, we chatted about our childhood memories watching the Reds, primarily of the 2008 Champions League win and Cristiano Ronaldo, Hojlund’s idol. Wayne Rooney was my childhood hero, I told him. “Ah, but you’re English!”
he replied. A fair point.
Rasmus engaged with everyone there and took everything in good humour. His family were proudly watching on as he donned the red shirt for the first time.
That was a while before our interview, but everyone from the media team, myself included, wanted to watch his photoshoot in our new kit. Watching this lifelong fan’s obvious and genuine buzz at getting to pull on the shirt was heart-warming.
When I asked him later on about how it felt, that same authentic excitement came across. “A bit surrealistic,”
he said at one point.
We spoke about a wide array of topics. I found him particularly engaging when discussing how his mentality is inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo. He spoke with confidence about his attitude towards football and life. In essence, his message was this: ‘I want to be the best version of myself’. Later in our conversation, he outlined his intention to become a “world-class striker.”
That’s what United need and what I’m confident we’ll get, having seen the determination and belief in his eyes.
Hojlund's outward ambition actually reminded me of another young Red I've had the pleasure to interview, Alejandro Garnacho. There is a clear emphasis in those Erik ten Hag puts his faith in, both from within the squad he inherited and those he has brought in, on these characters.
I’d be lying if I pretended there were no pre-interview nerves. It’s only natural with a room full of people watching and the cameras rolling, bright lights beside them. But, as ever with these things, whatever nerves you might have before disappear as soon as a hush descends on the room and you get started. Why? Because footballers are normal people and, more often than not, friendly, polite and forthcoming. United fans will be pleased to know that Rasmus, in my experience, was all of those things.
It was with great pleasure, then, that I watched him walk out of the Old Trafford tunnel to be presented to the crowd on Saturday. The day before, I'd seen how keen he was to get to see the special ground for the first time.
As a fan myself, I look forward with excitement to watching Hojlund’s first steps as a Red from my seat in the Stretford End. As a reporter, I am fascinated to see how Erik ten Hag can mould the Dane’s obvious raw attributes into the world-class striker he wants to be.