The ‘outstanding’ Benjamin Sesko is a striker with admirers at Manchester United and one European football expert sees a lot of similarities between the RB Leipzig ace and the Premier League’s own Rasmus Hojlund.
While much of the post-match discussion following Leipzig’s 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night focused on the chances squandered by the hosts, David Cartlidge was in a far more forgiving mood towards a forward who saw most of those opportunities fall his way, kept off the scoresheet by the outstanding Blancos glovesman Andriy Lunin.
Yes, Benjamin Sesko could – and perhaps should – have given Leipzig a result to protect ahead of their trip to the Bernabeu.
But, still, there was something electrifying about the way Sesko went about his business. A 20-year-old unfazed and unrelenting, missing chances yet but refusing to let his head drop for a second as his pace and movement ran the Real Madrid defence ragged.
Benjamin Sesko shows why Manchester United like him
“He was phenomenal. He was really phenomenal,” Cartlidge tells the On the Continent podcast.
“If you look at his whole game against Real Madrid, those chances were (created) through him. His movement, his running, was outstanding. He’s got incredible ‘power running’, the way he drives into different positions and pulls people apart is extremely impressive.”
It is no secret that Sesko, a graduate of the Red Bull finishing school, has admirers at Old Trafford. The 20-year-oldSlovakia international confirmed himself, via an interview with Transfermarkt , that Manchester United had attempted to sign him before he swapped Salzburg for their German-based sister club Leipzig to the tune of £20 million in 2022.
A deal that was announced just 12 months before Man United landed their own superstar-striker-in-waiting, Rasmus Hojlund further justifying that £64 million investment every time he steps onto a Premier League pitch these days.
“(Sesko’s role at Leipzig is) not too different to I think what Rasmus Hojlund is doing at Man United,” Cartlidge adds.
“There is a lot of similarities I see between those two in terms of their movement, their awareness in and around the penalty area and how they link up with midfield. How they realise their role is not just about poaching, it’s about bringing the midfield into the game.
“I was really impressed with Sesko regardless of (him) not finishing chances.”
Rasmus Hojlund needs support at United
With Man United expected to return to the market for a new striker this summer – Anthony Martial’s departure leaving Hojlund as Erik ten Hag’s only number nine – it would not be a surprise to see Sesko come into contention again.
Then again, given the obvious similarities between Sesko and Hojlund, perhaps the Red Devils’ new Ineos decision-makers will opt for a player with a rather different skillset.
A Matyhs Tel, perhaps.