Rasmus Hojlund is enjoying a strong spell on loan at Napoli, after leaving Manchester United for more regular minutes. The Denmark forward has produced 12 goal contributions, with nine goals and three assists in 20 matches, and now faces fresh competition as Romelu Lukaku closes in on a return from injury.
Napoli initially brought in Hojlund as short-term cover when Lukaku suffered a serious thigh injury during pre-season. The Serie A champions needed another central striker, and the chance for Hojlund to step straight into a leading role became clear, especially with Lukaku absent during the early months of the 2024-25 campaign.
Hojlund’s status at Manchester United had already shifted before the move. United signed Hojlund for a reported 72m
fee in 2023, yet by the end of the 2024-25 season, the club considered Hojlund surplus to requirements after 10 goals in 52 games across all competitions.
Hojlund explained that Manchester United were open about the situation and the lack of continental competition. "United made it quite clear for me that I wasn't part of the plans for this year, and with no European football and that sort of thing. I'm young, I have to play football, and for that reason, I think this was also a good opportunity for me. "
The clarity from Manchester United matched the determination from Napoli. "Napoli saw an opportunity to go and get me and as soon as I heard the interest from them, I made it quite obvious to my camp and to the people around that I only wanted to go there. " Those talks helped speed up the loan agreement.
Conte’s influence also shaped Hojlund’s decision. "It was quite a short conversation [with Conte], but a very, very good one," Hojlund told Sports Illustrated. "I think he's an incredible coach. I've only seen him do good things almost everywhere he's been, so obviously that was a big part of it. When he calls you, you just have to say yes. "
Hojlund’s impact on the pitch for Napoli has been visible in Serie A and beyond. A recent example came when the forward struck the opening goal against Cremonese, reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area.
The ball ricochets into the path of Hojlund, who scores the opener for Napoli! #CremoneseNapoli 0-1 pic.twitter.com/Pf1jSnChfrLega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 28, 2025
His numbers at Napoli already compare favourably with his Manchester United record, highlighting the change in environment and role. The contrast between the two spells is clear in basic attacking output so far.
| Club | Season(s) | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 2024-25 | 52 | 10 | 0 |
| Napoli | 2025-26* | 20 | 9 | 3 |
*Current season to date
Lukaku’s return to fitness could affect future selections, with Antonio Conte likely to balance both strikers. Hojlund may need to sustain this level to stay first choice, yet also believes shared time with Lukaku can raise Hojlund’s level, both through competition and direct guidance.
Hojlund described the respect held for the Belgium forward. "Rom is a fantastic guy. I didn't really know him from before. I've had a couple of chats with him, like on the pitch, and I've actually got a Romelu shirt at home. He's a bit of an idol for me, because I've always looked up to him, actually," said Hojlund.
The Denmark international outlined how Lukaku might help refine key parts of Hojlund’s play. "I want to learn from him as well, because I feel like he can give me so much, he's always been scoring goals, and he's great at linking the play and those sort of things. I think he has a lot he can give as well. "
The loan to Napoli therefore offers Hojlund several gains at once: regular matches, exposure in a Serie A title defence, and daily training alongside Lukaku under Conte’s methods. For Manchester United, the move reflects a shift in attacking plans, while Napoli benefit from a forward delivering immediate output in a key position.
