It’s been a pretty busy transfer window over at Old Trafford this summer, and while there’s lots for supporters to get excited about this season, this heartwarming revelation about new striker Rasmus Højlund has got to be up there.
It’s been revealed today that the 20-year-old rising star’s childhood dream was to play for Manchester United.
A photo has surfaced online that shows his goal of playing in Red has been on Rasmus’ wish list since he was 10.
As revealed in a feature by TV 2 Sport in Denmark, a then-10-year-old Rasmus Højlund made a handwritten list of things he wanted to achieve in his life — namely to “play for the Danish national team and Manchester United”. Cut to a decade later and he’s made his dream a reality. How nice?!
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Rasmus Højlund, age 10: “My goal is to play for the Danish national team and for Manchester United.” [@TV2SPORTdk]
It was Højlund’s boyhood dream to play for United. Mission accomplished.
As you can see in the scribble done by the former-Atalanta striker when he was just a kid, he wrote a list of five things he wanted to do when he grew up and although four of those things had already been crossed out (well done, lad) one thing still remained: to play for his country and his favourite club.
The word “mål”, which translates to ‘goal’ or ‘destination’, can be seen written below with an arrow pointing to the fifth and final thing on the list, where you can see “Man UTD“.
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Already in a frame, it’s clear that the Red Devils’ new number nine took this list seriously and was manifesting his future from an early age. He might not have kicked a ball in the Premier League yet, but it’s safe to say he can go ahead and cross off that last one off now too.
In the interview with reporter and fellow countryman, Anders Masannek Jørgensen, Højlund is asked about the list when he is shown a picture of himself as a young boy wearing that very same kit United kit. Now, more than 10 years on, he’ll be wearing the latest iteration in front of the Old Trafford faithful.
Wholesome stuff, right? There aren’t many people that get to grow up and live their dream but even fewer that get to live the dream of playing for a club as massive as Manchester United, let alone can say they wrote it on a piece of paper and made it happen themselves.
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Højlund might still be pretty unproven at the highest level, scoring just nine league goals in 32 appearances last season, but it’s clear that Erik ten Hag and the scouting staff have seen potential in him — and so too has his new teammate and compatriot, Christian Eriksen.
He might have achieved this huge personal and professional goal but the real question is how many is he going to put in the back of the next this year?
Featured Image — Manchester United/@TV2SPORTdk (via Twitter)/Rasmus Højlund (via IG)
Sport
Manchester Storm’s record-breaking return to AO Arena goes down a storm with fans
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Storm have made their grand return to the AO Arena, after more than two decades away from their former home.
And it appears the ice hockey craze (which may have been spurred on by a certain Heated Rivalry) is here to stay, with record-breaking numbers piling into the venue for Sunday’s match against Sheffield Steelers.
The AO Arena has now shared that a record crowd of 11,000 fans attended the long-awaited Manchester Storm homecoming last week.
The action has gone down a storm with fans, with plenty of chatter on social media (and videos of a certain fight) doing the rounds.
Manchester Storm’s homecoming has now smashed the record for an Elite Hockey pre-season fixture, with fans travelling from across Manchester and beyond.
As the team enters this new era, bidding farewell to the ‘Storm Shelter’ in Altrincham that’s been their home for a decade, demand for tickets is continuing to grow.
This is the first time fans have been able to see the club on the ice at the AO Arena since 2004, and last weekend they thrilled supporters with a 5-5 draw agains the Steelers.
Manchester Storm is now set to bring approximately 35 games to the city centre each year, providing a regular programme of major sporting events for Manchester and its visitors.
It also brings elite-level hockey back to one of Europe’s largest indoor sporting arenas.
Gemma Vaughan, General Manager at the AO Arena says, “Tonight is a hugely significant moment for Manchester.
“To welcome Manchester Storm back to their former home after more than 20 years, and to do so in front of a record Elite Hockey League crowd, is incredibly special.
“The response from supporters has demonstrated the strength of Manchester’s passion for ice hockey and the demand for world-class sport in the city. We’re proud to be able to provide a home for the Storm as they begin this exciting new chapter.”
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Danny Jones -
9th August 2023 
