Man Utd star felt he had to leave as Ruben Amorim admits trust issues | Football | Sport

Manchester United are aiming to start the New Year on a high as the club prepare for their clash against Leeds United this weekend. The Red Devils are set to reignite their rivalry with the Yorkshire club at Elland Road on Sunday.

The arrival of 2026 also signals the beginning of the January transfer window. United have been linked with many potential deals, both arrivals and departures, as manager Ruben Amorim aims to bolster his squad in their quest for a Champions League spot. Whether the Portuguese coach will place more faith in young talents or seek to refine his team through the transfer market is yet to be seen. However, one player has shed light on his decision to exit Old Trafford during Amorim’s tenure. Express Sport looks at some of the major stories surrounding the club.

Rasmus Hojlund on Man Utd exit

Rasmus Hojlund has revealed what ultimately convinced him to leave Manchester United this summer. The striker had initially been resolute about remaining at Old Trafford before securing a deadline day loan switch to Napoli.

The move has proved fruitful for Hojlund, who has already surpassed his league goal tally from the previous campaign. The 22-year-old, who has netted six times in 12 Serie A fixtures, has explained what finally swayed him to leave United.

When questioned about his change of heart, Hojlund told Sports Illustrated: “United made it very quite clear that I wasn’t part of their plans for this year, coming into the season. And with no European football, I think Napoli saw an opportunity to go and get me. As soon as I heard of their interest, I made it quite obvious to my camp and the people around me that I only wanted to go there.”

Ruben Amorim trust issue

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim confessed that he deliberately avoided using more academy players as his team sought a decisive goal against Wolves. The club had to settle for a frustrating 1-1 draw on Tuesday night, with Wolves securing just their third point of the season.

Amorim chose to substitute goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee with young midfielder Jack Fletcher at half-time, with Leny Yoro and debutant Bendito Mandato joining the fray later in the match. However, Amorim decided against using the attack-minded Shea Lacey and Chido Obi, believing they could further unsettle his team given United’s extensive list of absentees.

“It’s completely different and you know that when there is a lot of new people in different positions and you put one young kid, he will struggle,” Amorim explained.

“It’s completely different when you have a base, everything is working well and you can give minutes to a young kid. You look at the game and you understand clearly and you see our team and you know that you are going to struggle in certain aspects and I think that was what happened during the game.”