'He's like Van Nistelrooy' - Scholes heaps praise on €75m Man Utd signing

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Paul Scholes believes that Manchester United new boy Rasmus Hojlund has “a bit of [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy” in him after the Dane netted a brace against Galatasaray on Tuesday night.

The 20-year-old joined Man Utd from Atalanta this summer in a deal worth €75 million and he scored twice in the Red Devils’ disappointing 3-2 defeat versus Galatasaray in the second round of Champions League group stage fixtures.

Hojlund’s first was a neat header from six yards out following a Marcus Rashford cross, while his second saw him drive from the halfway line before lifting a delicate chip over the outstretched limbs of Fernando Muslera.

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His two goals - which followed up one strike against Bayern Munich a fortnight ago - reminded Man Utd legend Scholes of his former team-mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

Scholes was one of TNT Sports’ pundits for the game - alongside Rio Ferdinand - and spoke about Hojlund after the game.

“When United lose a big game like this – one they had to win – you’re normally really disappointed, but I saw enough in the team that excited me,” Scholes said.

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“Hojlund especially, he took his two goals brilliantly. I absolutely loved his second goal. He gave the centre-half no chance, he’s shown a clean pair of heels, and he’s shown the composure to finish it. He also had another goal disallowed. I thought: ‘Wow, there’s a bit of Van Nistelrooy in there’, and it really excited me.”

Scholes continued: “Mason Mount, I thought he did well, but he just needs a goal, he’s desperate for a goal.

“[Sofyan] Amrabat, he’s not a left-back, he gets done for the third goal, but it was so wide open. [Victor] Lindelof and [Raphael] Varane, it was so soft and weak, and we all know what the goalkeeper did as well.”

Ultimately, Erik ten Hag’s side succumbed to their sixth defeat in just 10 games this season and their second consecutive Champions League loss, which leaves them bottom of A on zero points.

Onana criticism

Summer signing Onana, who joined for €52.5m from Inter Milan - has been heavily criticised for his role in Casemiro’s red card and in Galatasaray’s winning goal.

Scholes also believes that he should be better for Mauro Icardi’s winner. “I don't think the goalkeeper does well,” he admitted on TNT Sports.

“He just sits down. If you look closer, the ball is in front of [Mauro] Icardi’s feet. He can’t really do anything other than dink the ball. Just stand up and he catches it and for some reason he just dives out the way.”