Hojlund in storm over fan channel interview

RASMUS HOJLUND’S interview with a Manchester United fan channel has sparked an extraordinary backlash leading to death threats and a police investigation. Hojlund spoke to The United Stand last month, fulfilling a promise the Denmark striker made after his £72million move to Old Trafford in the summer. Several of Hojlund’s team-mates were reported to be unhappy over his decision to be interviewed by the channel’s owner and presenter Mark Goldbridge because they have been critical of United players. The United Stand have since received death threats warning Goldbridge he is ‘a dead man walking’ and threatening to harm him if he turns up at Old Trafford. The messages on social media mentioned other members of staff and the exact location of the studio. Police were called out on Tuesday and security has been stepped up. Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Officers have spoken with the victim and relevant information has been passed over to the police. Enquiries are ongoing.’ The United Stand is the club’s most-watched fan channel, building up a global audience of 1.8million on YouTube and 2.3m followers on X since it was launched a decade ago. Goldbridge told Mail Sport: ‘I totally understand football is a passionate and divisive sport, and people are free to decide and have an opinion on what content they consume. However, the pile-on some of our staff were subject to over the weekend was incredibly sad. To be threatening people’s lives yet again evidences the vile pack mentality that exists on social media.’ A boyhood follower of The United Stand, Hojlund is said to understand why team-mates were unhappy, though the issue has led to dressing-room banter rather than any serious tension. The 21-year-old is set to return to action in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Liverpool after missing United’s last four games through injury.