Napoli manager Antonio Conte has come to the defence of Rasmus Hojlund after the Manchester United striker’s goalscoring form has taken a hit this season.
Rasmus Hojlund made a strong start to life at the Naples-based club after he left Old Trafford last summer and signed on loan with Serie A outfit Napoli.
The 23-year-old Danish forward has found the back of the net 14 times and registered seven assists in 42 matches across all competitions for the Italian side.
However, on-loan Manchester United star Hojlund has not scored for Antonio Conte’s men in his last six Serie A appearances amid the club’s push for a top-four finish.
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Antonio Conte’s theory on Rasmus Hojlund’s goalscoring drought at Napoli amid the Man Utd star’s loan spell
Rasmus Hojlund opened his Serie A goalscoring account with Napoli in his first match with the Italian club after netting against Fiorentina last August.
The Denmark international scored twice in his opening four Serie A matches with Napoli, but Hojlund has now experienced a dip in form in the tail end of the season.
Hojlund did pick up an assist in Napoli’s 3-2 home defeat to Bologna on Monday, but the on-loan Manchester United striker’s goalscoring drought has continued.
Speaking after the match, Antonio Conte pointed out that Napoli have had to rely on Hojlund as their leading striker option after Romelu Lukaku’s injury-hit season.
“Let’s not forget that he’s the only striker we have in the squad; he’s always playing,” he told DAZN, as per Goal.
“This season, we should have had the opportunity to rest him and bring him on during the game. He has so much energy.
“There are times when you have to attack the depth and others when you have to protect the ball.”
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Antonio Conte’s prediction for the development of Man Utd and Napoli striker Rasmus Hojlund going forward
United included a permanent transfer clause for Hojlund if certain conditions are met this season, including Napoli returning to the Champions League for next season.
Napoli are believed to be keen on keeping hold of the United striker for the future and Conte has backed Hojlund to become even better in the long term.
“He has excellent qualities, he’s only 23 and has significant room for improvement,” he explained.
“We can’t say anything about him at all.”
United’s fee for Denmark forward Hojlund has been set at £38m, with Napoli currently second in the Serie A table ahead of their final two matches.
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