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Football Insider

From Misery to Mastery: The Remarkable Rise of Rasmus Hojlund at Napoli

Napoli sensation Rasmus Hojlund has been dubbed as the 'strongest striker in Serie A' alongside World Cup champion Lautaro Martinez, showcasing a remarkable transformation since his loan move from Manchester United. His impressive goal-scoring form has turned heads and earned him accolades in Italy.

From Misery to Mastery: The Remarkable Rise of Rasmus Hojlund at Napoli

Napoli star Rasmus Hojlund has been hailed as the "strongest striker in Serie A" alongside Inter's World Cup-winning talisman Lautaro Martinez, as the Denmark international continues his impressive goalscoring exploits following his summer loan move from Manchester United. The forward has scored six goals and registered two assists in 12 appearances, proving his worth in Italy following a dismal spell in the Premier League.Hojlund joined Napoli on loan with an obligation to buy in the summer, and has already gone on to score six Serie A goals, netting a brace last time out in a 2-0 win over Cremonese. The Denmark star's exploits may come as something of a surprise, given his well-documented struggles at Old Trafford. During his first two seasons at United after joining from Atalanta, he made 95 appearances but only scored 26 goals, of which only 14 came in the Premier League. Now, though, he has been hailed as one of the best centre-forwards in Italy's top-flight. He has already eclipsed his league goal tally at United last season, doing so in 22 fewer games.Christian Vieri, the former Italy international, has claimed that Hojlund has the ability to become one of the best strikers in the world. He said: "I consider Hojlund as potentially one of the five best strikers in the world. He can score goals, but he knows how to attack deep and wear down defences. He has a strong left foot and is great with his head and his physicality."Giampaolo Pazzini, a former striker with Fiorentina, AC Milan and Inter, has also waxed lyrical about Hojlund, while giving Napoli boss Antonio Conte credit for bringing the best out of him. Pazzini told Sportsmediaset: “At the moment, Hojlund, under [Antonio] Conte, is the strongest striker in Serie A alongside Lautaro [Martinez]. Since he arrived, he has undergone an incredible transformation.“He has always been a good player, but with great instinct, great power, he was a wild horse. Conte took him, educated him and raised him.“Now he’s a fantastic striker because he plays for the team, he doesn’t make a single mistake, he never gets anticipated, he plays short, he plays long, he’s vicious in front of goal.“Now he’s decisive throughout the match and you also find him in the defensive phase.”Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Conte has claimed that Hojlund is becoming "dominant" as he grows in Serie A. He said: “Hojlund is a player who is very young, he’s still only 22 years old, and can improve a great deal.“Since he first joined us, he has already progressed to become a dominant player in that role, because he’s starting to understand the right positions to take, how to defend the ball, when to come towards it or back off.“He is really well connected with the team. In my style of football, the strikers have a very important and special role in the overall approach, and he has huge margin for further improvement.”A member of Hojlund's entourage, Luca Nigriello, revealed his motivations, adding: “When we were closing the operation with Napoli there was great enthusiasm. Rasmus arrived from a complicated period at Manchester United, but he never experienced Napoli as a stop-gap (ripiego). He arrived with true hunger, with the desire to get back into the game. Character-wise he is strong, tough, he knows what he wants.“Conte gives him confidence and is making him grow. Rasmus plays, makes mistakes, and learns. He has become hungrier, more consistent. He is a chameleon who adapts to what the team asks.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingNapoli play Lazio on Sunday as they bid to continue their title defence. Conte's side are third in Serie A, two points behind current leaders Inter. The two sides will clash on January 11 when Hojlund and Co head to the San Siro. Hojlund won the Suppercopa Italiana this year, and is now gunning for his first major trophy in Italy. He did lift the FA Cup during his time at United, having also won the league with Copenhagen in 2020-21.

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A New Lease of Life in Italy

Rasmus Hojlund's loan move to Napoli has proven to be a career-defining decision, with the Danish forward flourishing in Serie A. Despite a tough spell at Manchester United, where he struggled to find consistent form, Hojlund has found his rhythm at Napoli, netting six goals and providing two assists in just 12 appearances.

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Praise from Italian Legends

Italian football icons like Christian Vieri and Giampaolo Pazzini have showered praise on Hojlund for his performances at Napoli. Vieri envisions him as one of the best strikers globally, highlighting his goal-scoring prowess and physical attributes. Pazzini credits Napoli manager Antonio Conte for shaping Hojlund into a top striker in Serie A, emphasizing his all-around contribution to the team.

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Continual Growth Under Conte

Antonio Conte's guidance has been instrumental in Hojlund's success at Napoli, with the manager emphasizing the striker's evolution and growing dominance in the Serie A. Conte identifies Hojlund's potential for further improvement, praising his understanding of positional play, defensive contributions, and overall team-oriented approach on the pitch.

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Unwavering Determination and Hunger

Hojlund's entourage underscores the striker's unwavering determination and hunger for success. Despite his challenging stint at Manchester United, Hojlund arrived at Napoli with a strong mindset, eager to prove himself and make a significant impact. Conte's belief in the player, coupled with Hojlund's adaptability and continuous learning, has been key to his resurgence in Italy.

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Quest for Silverware and Success

As Napoli aims to defend their Serie A title, Hojlund's contributions will be vital in their pursuit of glory. With a potential showdown against league leaders Inter looming, Hojlund's ambition to clinch major trophies in Italy is palpable. Having already tasted success in the FA Cup and Supercoppa Italiana, the Danish star is driven to add more accolades to his collection.

Published on Dec 30, 2025