Antonio Conte appears to have fired a subtle dig in the direction of Ruben Amorim – as he explained how players like Rasmus Hojlund need to be well-coached in order to perform.
Hojlund, 22, joined Serie A giants Napoli on loan last September, with a conditional obligation to buy for around £38million, after being told he was not part of Amorim’s plans at Man United.
The Denmark international had been brought to United under Erik Ten Hag for £72million in 2023 after impressing with Italian side Atalanta, but struggled to hit those heights at Old Trafford and scored just four Premier League goals last season.
Since swapping Manchester for Naples – a path previously taken by former United midfielder Scott McTominay – Hojlund has begun to rediscover the form that once made him one of Europe’s most coveted young forwards.
The striker has already registered nine goals and three assists this season, and Conte believes his resurgence is down to the coaching he has received.
‘Rasmus is a player who has improved so much since he first arrived,’ the Napoli boss said. ‘He is 22 years old, we saw great potential in him, but inevitably these lads need to be coached by people who can improve them, teach them how to work for the team, the positioning, when to go towards the ball and when to attack the space.
‘Our job is to keep improving all the players and make them better than when they first arrive.’
Hojlund has already tasted silverware in Naples, helping Napoli win the Italian Super Cup. He scored and assisted in the semi-final against AC Milan before the final victory over Bologna.
After lifting the trophy the week before Amorim was sacked by United, the striker shared a photo on social media and wrote that it was ‘what a great decision looks like’ – a comment widely interpreted as a swipe at his former club.
Napoli have made little secret of their desire to make Højlund’s move permanent, with sporting director Giovanni Manna saying last month that completing the deal for the 2026–27 season should be ‘a formality’ once the relevant clauses are triggered.
And Hojlund himself has been outspoken about his happiness in Italy’s rough-and-ready south coast.
‘Manchester United had let me know that I wasn’t in their plans for the season, for me and for Napoli it was an opportunity: I wanted to wear the Azzurri shirt straight away, I spoke with Manna and then with Conte, I understood the meaning of this challenge for me,’ he told Corriere dello Sport in December.
‘The first call with Conte was brief but very clear. We both knew it was the right step for me. When a coach like him calls you, you just have to say yes.
‘For my age, I’ve already played a lot, I don’t think I’m an experienced player yet but, certainly, I already have a lot of games under my belt.’
Hojlund has been a revelation alongside McTominay, who won Serie A in his first season at the club and was crowned player of the season as a result.
The Scottish midfielder and Hojlund were team-mates for just a season at Old Trafford before the former left, meaning he had a familiar face upon touching down in southern Italy.
‘We’re at different stages of our careers. I still have a lot to learn, he’s more experienced. I’m young and I need to play, and this was a great opportunity for me,’ Hojlund continued.
‘I like to keep the bar high. If you’re complacent, you risk slacking off. I’m always trying to improve: in goals, in my play, in my personal growth. Even in learning Italian.
‘Adapting to a new culture is crucial, especially here in Italy, where the language is so important. Now I understand practically everything, even if speaking Neapolitan dialect is another thing!’
