Reaction as 12 goal 12 assist young attacker leaves Manchester United permanently
Hoogewerf was the sole player to leave United permanently during the transfer window, joining German club Borussia Moenchengladbach.
This came as a surprise, but it is also a wise move for the young forward, who has not played as well as he would have liked this season.
Hoogewerf is a promising young talent.
Hoogewerf joined United from Ajax in 2019 at the age of 16. He was gaining some traction prior to the shutdown, having scored three goals in three FA Youth Cup games to reach the semi-finals.
When the 2020/21 season started, Hoogewerf found himself in the under-18s alongside newcomers Joe Hugill, Charlie McNeill, and Alejandro Garnacho.
After a sluggish start, he finished the season in superb form, forming a devastating tandem with Charlie McNeill. He also played for the under-23s.
Last season in the academy, he contributed 24 goals. In 2020/21, the under-18s will score 12 goals, with 11 assists and a further assist for the under-23s.
Hoogewerf is a very talented player who can play as a striker but is most effective when he drops deep to receive the ball and dash at defenders.
He possesses a low center of gravity and a huge leap, allowing him to score a lot of headed goals. Hoogwerf, a solid dribbler with a powerful shot, has a little bit of everything.
Despite this, he was unable to make an impact for the under-23s this season, and time was against him.
Make a move that is in the best interests of the player.
Not everyone is cut out for Manchester United, and Hoogewerf will turn 19 at the end of the month. He was yet to be called up to train with the first team or play in pre-season games, despite the fact that Charlie McNeill and Joe Hugill had both been given the opportunity.
He had started six games in all competitions for the under-23s, EFL Trophy, and UEFA Youth League this season. Nine more appearances had come from the bench.
He has two goals and one assist on the season, with his most recent goal coming in September.
Hoogewerf may have matured into the season and thrived at the under-23 level like he did for the under-18s last season.
Rather than wait and see, United has made the choice to move on, which is undoubtedly in Hoogewerf’s best interests because the transition to the first team could have been difficult.
Perhaps United should have loaned him out to an Eredivisie club in the summer to see how he grew. That opportunity has already passed, and Hoogewerf will be able to continue his career in Germany.
He’ll start with Moenchengladbach’s development squad and work his way up. He’s the type of technically gifted player who could thrive in the Bundesliga.
It would not surprise me if he went on to make Manchester United look stupid in a few years. Let’s hope that if he does, the club has included a buy-back clause in the contract.
