‘He is my favourite United player and I am very sure he will compete with me and Mbappe for the Ballon d’Or. He’s a good player’-Man City striker, Haaland Praise Man Utd star after Many encounters with him during Manchester Derby.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has come to the defense of Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund amid criticism of his debut season with the Red Devils.

Haaland emphasized that despite a challenging start, Hojlund has demonstrated genuine potential and has progressed throughout the season, affirming his quality as a player.

Hojlund, who joined Manchester United from Atalanta for a hefty fee of £64 million last summer, initially struggled to make a significant impact at the club. However, he showed signs of improvement as the season unfolded.

It wasn’t until Boxing Day that Hojlund managed to score his first goal in the Premier League for Erik ten Hag’s team, indicating a gradual adaptation to the demands of English football.

Commenting on the 21-year-old’s performance, Haaland remarked to reporters ahead of Manchester City’s recent Champions League victory over Copenhagen, stating, “I believe he faced challenges initially, but he noticeably stepped up his game. In our encounters, I found him quite impressive. He’s a talented player, and like me, he’s still young. Although I may not be categorized as a youngster anymore, I’m still youthful! He needs to continue evolving. As a striker for Manchester United, scoring goals is imperative, and that remains his primary responsibility.”