Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund labels Erling Haaland as ‘the world’s best footballer’

Erling Haaland has received the ultimate praise from his striking counterpart over at Old Trafford in glowing praise from Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund.

Old Trafford officials completed the signing of Hojlund from Serie A side Atalanta for an initial transfer fee reported to be worth £64 million, plus a further £8 million in performance-related and success-based add-ons.

Since joining the red side of Manchester earlier this year, supporters of the Old Trafford club and the media have often been trying to form comparisons between Rasmus Hojlund and Manchester City’s sensation Erling Haaland.

Haaland has firmly established himself as one of the deadliest strikers in world football, and his contributions in front of goal last season helped Manchester City claim a historic Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup Treble.

Speaking to TV2 Sport this week, the Manchester United and Denmark international striker was quizzed on recent comparisons to Norway’s Erling Haaland, to which he was swift to dismiss and instead offer the ultimate praise to City’s frontman.

“I hope that one day I can reach his (Erling Haaland’s level, but right now, I think it is too early”, Højlund responded. “Erling is in any case the world’s best striker, if not the world’s best footballer.”

He continued, “I don’t really want to be compared to him, but I hope that one day I can be like him. Who knows? I am only 20 years old. We will have to see what it can end up with.”

The two strikers are set to go head-to-head for the first time in Manchester later this month, when Manchester City travel to Old Trafford for the latest instalment of the ever-exciting Manchester derby.

Højlund admitted that while Haaland is a ‘crazy football player’ and an athlete that he is keen to learn from, he is hoping that the Norwegian international ‘stops’ when Pep Guardiola’s league champions travel to Old Trafford.

Rasmus Højlund said, “Erling (Haaland) is a class player. He has had some absolutely outstanding years! He must stop when we meet him! He is a crazy football player. I try to learn from him.”

Both forwards are expected to make their returns to England later this week following duties with their respective national teams, and face Premier League action almost immediately upon their return on Saturday afternoon.

Manchester City take on Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium as the reigning Champions look to bounce back from defeat against Wolves and Arsenal away from home to return to winning ways in domestic competition.