Antonio Conte Hails Player Who Brought Napoli Good Luck After Victor Osimhen’s Departure
- Former Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund scored 14 minutes into his Napoli debut in a 3-1 win over Fiorentina
- Antonio Conte praised the 22-year-old’s potential and his fit for Napoli’s attacking style immediately
- Napoli have started the season with three straight wins, continuing Conte’s strong start to the 2025/26 season
Napoli fans were treated to a near-perfect debut from Rasmus Hojlund, who found the net just 14 minutes into his first game for the club.
The 22-year-old Danish forward, signed on a season-long loan from Manchester United, opened the scoring in a 3-1 win over Fiorentina, keeping Napoli’s perfect start to the season alive.
Source: Getty Images
Antonio Conte, who took charge of Napoli this summer, could not hide his satisfaction with the new striker, GOAL reports.
In his post-match remarks, the Italian coach praised Hojlund’s potential and hinted that he sees the striker as more than just a stop-gap solution.
“Hojlund is only 22 years old, we got him from Manchester United, and it brought us luck doing that with McTominay too,” Conte said.
“He has great potential and can improve. You can see he’s a lad with great prospects.”
Perfect timing after Osimhen and Lukaku absences
Hojlund’s move came at a crucial time for the Italian club.
Victor Osimhen’s departure this summer to Galatasaray left a gap up front, and Romelu Lukaku’s thigh injury further complicated Napoli’s attacking options.
Source: Getty Images
Lukaku, who played a big role in last season’s title run, opted against surgery but is still out for several months.
Conte stressed the importance of having a forward who could lead the line and hold up play.
“We signed Hojlund to replace Romelu, who will be out for a long time. We need someone who can hold the ball up. That’s true for any team that wants to dominate matches,” he said.
The Dane’s physicality and movement gave Napoli a reliable target in attack and helped the team control the game, Yahoo Sports reports.
Napoli’s midfielders repeatedly found him with direct passes, and his early goal set the tone for a confident win.
Napoli’s winning start under Conte continues
Napoli have now won their first three Serie A games for the first time since the 2021/22 season, a statistic that will please Conte as much as the fans.
Hojlund’s arrival follows the signing of Lorenzo Lucca, who scored 12 goals for Udinese last season, giving Napoli real depth in attack.
Hojlund’s loan deal cost Napoli €6 million, with an obligation to buy for €44 million next summer.
Manchester United’s signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig made the move possible, as Hojlund slipped further down Ruben Amorim's pecking order.
Conte’s Napoli look balanced and sharp, and with Hojlund firing early, optimism is building around the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Napoli’s next games will test their credentials, but with a revitalised attack, they look ready to push for another title challenge.
Conte freezes out Osimhen
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Antonio Conte and Napoli were expecting Osimhen to return to Naples for a pre-season medical checkup, but he will not be part of the senior team.
Osimhen spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, during which he helped the club win the Turkish Super League title and Ziraat Turkish Cup, scoring 37 goals and eight assists.
Source: Legit.ng
