Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund has helped Napoli qualify for the Champions League
Manchester United have banked £38million in preparation for next season after Napoli's qualification for the Champions League triggered an obligation to buy Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish striker joined the Serie A side on a season-long loan last summer, with United agreeing a clause that the move would be made permanent if Napoli qualify for Europe's elite competition.
Although Antonio Conte's side were unable to retain their 2024/25 Serie A crown, a 3-0 win against already-relegated Pisa on Sunday has guaranteed them of a place in next season's Champions League. It means the Napoli will be forced to sign Hojlund on a permanent deal this summer, having scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 43 appearances for Gli Azzurri.
He's set to follow in the footsteps of former United midfielder Scott McTominay on a permanent transfer to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, who has become a cult hero since his move to Italy.
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Hojlund scored in Napoli's win at Pisa, with McTominay and Amir Rrahmani netting the other two in a comfortable success for Conte's side, who all-but-sealed second-place in the progress. Gli Azzuri are three points above AC Milan in third and Roma in fourth, but boast a superior goal difference going into the final weekend.
Napoli's sporting director sporting director Giovanni Manna has already made it clear the club would look to sign Hojlund regardless of the club qualifying for the Champions League.
Back in March, he said: "There are no doubts. Rasmus will stay here. We have an obligation to buy from Manchester United, in case of Champions League access, but he is in our plans regardless of this condition."
It's a welcome boost for United ahead of the summer transfer window, with the club looking to bolster their ranks in order to challenge for the Premier League title.
Michael Carrick has done a brilliant job in guiding the club back to the Champions League, having struggled under Ruben Amorim prior to his dismissal.
United aren't expected to replace Hojlund in the summer transfer window, having already signed Benjamin Sesko last summer, who has impressed since Carrick's arrival at Old Trafford.
However, not everyone was convinced that allowing Hojlund to leave was the right thing for the club. United Icon Peter Schmeichel said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast: "A bit of a shame because I like Hojlund by the way and think he could have been absolutely fantastic. But I don't think he wants to come back."
Schmeichel's former team-mate Nicky Butt added: "What they did with Hojlund was wrong because they brought a young boy in who's not got any Premier League experience and asked him to carry Manchester United.
"I'm scared they're going to do that with (Benjamin) Sesko. I know Sesko has done really well of late but they still need to get another centre forward, we had four top players in that position."