Rasmus Hojlund’s fifth appearance for Napoli in Wednesday night’s 2-1 Champions League triumph against Sporting has given Italian media a clearer picture of his situation. The Denmark international joined Antonio Conte’s side on loan with a buyout clause for £45 million in the summer, seeking to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Scott McTominay, who won Serie A Player of the Year in his debut season.
In recent years, many players have found success after abandoning ship at Manchester United in quest of greener pastures. With the Red Devils spending over £200 million to rebuild their forward line, bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, it was only a matter of time before Hojlund, who scored 10 Premier League goals in his first season but only four in the next two, looked for a new opportunity.
Joining last season’s Scudetto winners, who also added Kevin De Bruyne to their ranks, appeared to be a decent option for the 22-year-old. Far removed from the toxic locker room at Old Trafford, he now has an excellent opportunity to demonstrate his actual worth.
Italian media’s verdict on Hojlund after five appearances for Napoli.
It’s incredible what a great environment and a boost of confidence can do for a player, and Hojlund has been demonstrating his value in Italy. His two goals against Sporting in midweek are just the beginning for a forward who suddenly appears to be a key member of a championship-winning team.
Building on his first league goal for Napoli last month, Wednesday night’s appearance saw him make one vital pass, complete 81% of his passes, and win four of six aerial duels. His increased influence in the last third demonstrates that he has turned over a new leaf and revealed a new version of himself. On his blog, journalist Toni Lavarone gave him an 8/10 rating, writing:
“Beyond the double of a true striker, he places an unimaginable number of balls in the safe [referring to his hold-up play], allowing his team to go up [and attack]. In Manchester, they’ll be eating their hands. Again.”
Corriere Della Sera gave Hojlund an 8/10, stating, “The Maradona lights up with a double, the first sharp foot, the photocopy of Florence’s goal, the second head, when the victory appears to vanish.” It was a memorable night for him and his new fans. View Hojlund’s two goals below.
Gazzetta Dello Sport, meanwhile, called Hojlund a “sniper” for his exploits in front of goal, awarding the Dane an 8/10 match rating, while Il Mattino stated that the forward has established himself as the new “King” of the Maradona, with fans adoring their new striker.
Another encouraging feature of Hojlund’s game early in the 2025/26 season is the partnership he is forming with former opponent Kevin De Bruyne, who assisted both of the 22-year-old’s Champions League goals.
Midfielder-striker partnerships are an underappreciated aspect of the beautiful game, but history has shown how important they can be: consider Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in the late 2000s, or Erling Haaland and De Bruyne in the 2020s. At their peak, they can be the key to stratospheric success.
And, with Napoli currently level on points with AC Milan at the top of the Serie A and high in the Champions League power rankings, they have every reason to believe they can turn their dreams into more silverware this season, as Italian clubs emerge as a force to be reckoned with after years of mediocrity.
xz
