Ahead of Napoli’s Champions League fight against Manchester City, football fans are heavily invested in the personal stories within the match.
Kevin de Bruyne comes back to the Etihad Stadium, where he made himself a club legend for Manchester City, and Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund visit the same city, which they had to leave for the sake of their careers, after failing to climb up the ranks at Manchester United.
While much has been said about de Bruyne and McTominay, we shall talk about the glow-up of Rasmus Hojlund.
The young Dane has already scored a goal 14 minutes into his debut, and fans are hyping him up to have a world-class season similar to McTominay’s redemption arc. Another thing that fans have noticed is how Hojlund’s adolescent face, earlier filled with acne, is now totally devoid of it.
So is the secret to clear skin and good health, the sun and ripe tomatoes of Naples? Let’s investigate.
While McTominay has already become a fan favourite at Naples, there’s something different about Rasmus Hojlund.
The striker has been mocked, vilified, and scapegoated, most often unfairly, for his lack of goals while playing as United’s first-choice and frequently lone striker. After an abysmal return of only 26 goals in 95 appearances, United wanted to cut costs on the 22-year-old and have replaced him with Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko, who incidentally, is still goalless in 4 appearances. Replacing a young striker with another young striker is something only the transfer experts at United can do, and is also reflective of their often clueless transfer business in the post-Fergie era.
Hojlund’s hair is trimmed, the blond matted bangs puffed at the centre. He now walks with a straighter gait. His skin is clear and reflective, a total 180 from his days in Manchester.
Leave Manchester and your acne clears 😂 pic.twitter.com/lhTRxIJnEc
— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) September 17, 2025
Seems like he, too, is having the post-Man United glow up.
Hojlund, however, had already started receiving treatment for his acne last year. While recovering from a hamstring injury, Hojlund sought to improve his skin by receiving the PicoSure Laser Skin Rejuvenation treatment with KLNIK in Harvey Nichols Manchester.
“I’m actually quite surprised because [the acne] blew up the last two summers I had,” Hojlund said during his treatment.
Now, Hojlund’s acne seems to have cleared up. Many fans have explained that the acne blew up due to the added stress of being a Manchester United striker. Sometimes, mental pressure and weather conditions can indeed make our bodies react irregularly, secreting hormones like cortisol, which leads to acne flaring up. The rainy weather in Manchester also causes acne due to the skin secreting more sebum in cold and humid conditions. Sebum, incidentally, is the natural oil secreted by the skin to keep it lubricated and moisturised. Accumulated sebum could lead to clogging of pores, which evolves into a pimple.
The sunny weather in Napoli, compounded by a more supportive team environment and less media pressure, could be factors that make the 22-year-old look a bit different.
Although the newer photos of Hojlund at Napoli has triggered fans to notice his clearer skin, the process has been ongoing for over a year, with Hojlund receiving laser treatment.
While recent comparisons showcase Hojlund’s clearer skin, he seems to be in a better mental state, too. There have been concerns regarding the pressure faced by Manchester United players due to the club’s size, legacy, and popularity, where even the littlest of mistakes are dissected and analysed by critics, commentators, media, and fans alike. Leaving the media circus could therefore lead to more confidence, a subdued calmness, and also a sense of world-weariness and maturity that reflects positively in a new club, amongst newer teammates.
Hojlund, therefore, is now a maturing centre forward who would now learn the tricks of his trade from none other than Belgian superstar Romelu Lukaku. He would be assisted by De Bruyne and McTominay, and coached by the much-revered Antonio Conte. No wonder he seems more charismatic and camera-friendly now.
Regardless, Hojlund would be hoping his demons at the Red Devils would leave him, and the boyhood United fan could finally get his redemption at Napoli.
