Napoli head coach Antonio Conte appeared to aim a subtle dig towards Manchester United after on-loan striker Rasmus Hojlund scored the winner in the Serie A side’s 2-1 win over Genoa.
Hojlund, 22, scored his fourth Napoli goal in just six appearances in the 2-1 win against Genoa on Sunday – he scored just ten times in 52 appearances for United last term.
The Dane has seen a resurgence in his form since completing a season-long loan move - with a conditional obligation to buy - from parent club Manchester United following a torrid time with the Premier League club.
Like his fellow former United man, Scott McTominay has done, the 22-year-old looks a different player from the one who struggled at United following his £72m transfer from Atalanta in 2023.
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After helping the 2024/25 Serie A winners to three points at the Diego Maradona Stadium, Hojlund was pressed on whether he’s changed anything, to which he replied: “I don’t think I’ve changed anything.”
The result leaves Napoli top of Serie A after six games, having won five and lost one of their fixtures.
Hojlund has formed an understanding with fellow summer recruit Kevin De Bruyne since arriving in Italy and is hoping to finally fulfil his potential with the Naples club.
After Sunday’s victory, head coach Conte, 56, appeared to aim a subtle dig at Hojlund’s parent club, United, when homing in on the Dane being made to watch from the bench for much of his time in England.
"He's a 22-year-old who was on the sidelines at Manchester United,” Conte told Gazzetta.
“He has significant room for improvement, he needs to work because he has the potential to become a star, and he's proving it."
Meanwhile, Conte also spoke of the 2024/25 Serie A Player of the Season, McTominay, 28, and admitted that the Scotland international was “struggling a bit” compared to last year, when he contributed with 13 goals and six assists.
The 56-year-old also explained the reason for De Bruyne’s omission from the starting line-up and simply put it down to rotation.
"We have to manage our schedule between Serie A and the Champions League. Against Pisa, I rested Anguissa and Lobotka, today, after several games where Kevin was a key player, I chose to start with a 4-3-3,” the Italian explained.
“But he’s fully integrated, we understand each other perfectly. He’s very important for us because, when we play with four midfielders, he adds a lot of quality.”
Napoli will return to Serie A action away at Torino on Saturday, 18 October.
Topics: Football, Napoli, Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund, Antonio Conte, Serie A, Kevin De Bruyne
Luke Davies