Hojlund taunted by opponent after Man Utd star fumes over 'unfair' treatment
San Marino defender Roberto Di Maio has labelled Rasmus Hojlund a "disappointment" after the Manchester United striker was left furious with his treatment during Denmark's 2-1 win on Tuesday.
Di Maio, 41, came on as a second-half substitute for San Marino as they scored their first competitive goal in two years, but couldn't hold on to get anything from the game. Hojlund had given Denmark the lead in the 42nd minute before the world's lowest-ranked national side equalised through Alessandro Golinucci.
However, Denmark found a winner with less than 20 minutes to spare as Youssef Poulsen struck to put qualification for Euro 2024 within touching distance. The Danes remain second in Group H and could secure their place at next summer's tournament with a win over Slovenia next month.
The game was not without its controversy, meanwhile, as San Marino tried to make it as difficult as possible for Denmark to win. Hojlund claimed after the match that Fabrizio Constantini's side deliberately targeted him and tried to injure him throughout the match.
Now, Di Maio has hit back at Hojlund on social media to dispute the forward's admission. "Today I read that Mr 80 million is complaining because yesterday he received less than great treatment from the defenders of San Marino," Di Maio said on an Instagram story.
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"Well dear, probably in football like today where physical contact has disappeared you can allow yourself to make fun of us little opponents with ugly and repeated gestures or to simulate at every opportunity hoping for the VAR for a penalty. I would have liked to see you 15 years ago when only real men played football! You were a disappointment Hojlund, good luck."
Rasmus Hojlund and San Marino's Fabbri Filippo square up during the Euro 2024 qualifier (Getty Images)Hojlund cut a frustrated figure following the Euro 2024 and bemoaned about how he was being treated, despite scoring his side's opening goal. "I understand Italian, and I could hear several of them running around and saying nasty things to me. They also pushed and hit me while grabbing me extra hard," Hojlund said.
"When we scored, I was shown the flag, and they obviously couldn't handle that, and then they started pushing and things like that. I think it is incredibly disrespectful that they hit and tore. Especially him [Alessandro Tosi, also in the media mixed zone at the time], who is over there, started to tear me and hold extra tight."
The ex-Atalanta man also took to Instagram on Wednesday to further vent his frustrations at San Marino. Writing on his story, Hojlund said: "We do so much every day to be the best version of yourself and keep fit for so many games. This behaviour from San Marino last night, trying to injure me was unacceptable!."
After Hojlund vented his annoyance in his post-match interview, San Marino defender Alessandro Tosi was asked about what the forward said. "That's not true," Tosi explained.
"We only told him that he was not behaving properly. What he did was not necessary. He is a very strong striker, but he was not fair at all. I haven't lost respect for him completely, but we expected better behaviour. His behaviour when celebrating was unacceptable."
Hojlund will now return back to United ahead of this weekend's trip to Sheffield United. The striker has made an impressive start to life at Old Trafford, despite scoring just three times in eight appearances.
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