Mansion Sports – Antonio Conte has issued remarks that implicitly criticize Manchester United and their former head coach, Ruben Amorim, over the way the club handled Rasmus Hojlund.

The Danish striker is currently on loan with Serie A club Napoli and has shown a far more convincing level of performance compared to his final period at Old Trafford.

Hojlund’s Journey After Struggles at Manchester United

Rasmus Hojlund endured a difficult second season with Manchester United. After showing considerable promise during his first campaign, he struggled to maintain consistency and was eventually loaned out to Napoli.

That decision was taken because Ruben Amorim placed greater trust in Benjamin Sesko, a player signed during the summer transfer window who has so far scored five goals in 19 appearances for the Red Devils.

As time passed, Amorim himself was forced to leave his position as head coach and was replaced by Michael Carrick, who was appointed as interim manager until the end of the season.

Promising Early Career and Decline in Form

Hojlund actually began his Manchester United career on a positive note. Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, he scored 16 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions and contributed to the club’s FA Cup triumph.

However, the following season did not unfold as expected, as he managed only 10 goals from 52 matches.

That situation led Amorim to sideline Hojlund from his main plans and opt to bring in Sesko from RB Leipzig.

Hojlund’s Revival with Napoli

With Napoli, Hojlund’s performances have shown significant improvement. So far this season, he has scored nine goals and has appeared far more convincing as a leading striker.

Those displays have reminded the public of the Hojlund who persuaded Manchester United to spend a substantial £64 million to sign him from Atalanta.

This positive transformation has not gone unnoticed by Antonio Conte, who believes that Hojlund has benefited greatly from a more suitable coaching system.

Conte’s Praise and Subtle Criticism of the Previous System

Ahead of Napoli’s Serie A match against Parma, Conte offered open praise for Hojlund. He emphasized that the player has developed rapidly since his arrival.

According to Conte, young players like Hojlund require coaches who can guide them in detail, covering positional understanding, teamwork, and decision-making on the pitch.

Conte also stressed that a coach’s primary responsibility is to improve players so that they become better than they were when they first joined the team.

These remarks have been widely interpreted as a subtle critique of the approach previously applied at Manchester United.

Major Changes at Old Trafford

Meanwhile, conditions at Manchester United have undergone significant changes. After the conclusion of the 2024–2025 season, the club was immediately linked with several new attacking options.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were brought in early, before Sesko ultimately arrived as the main choice in the forward line.

However, the situation did not progress smoothly. Amorim was dismissed in early 2026 following a 1-1 draw against Leeds United, a result that was also followed by public criticism of football director Jason Wilcox.

Darren Fletcher briefly took charge of the team as caretaker manager before Michael Carrick was appointed as interim head coach.

Comparing the Fortunes of Hojlund and Sesko

Benjamin Sesko has also faced a challenging start at Manchester United. The Slovenian striker has scored only five goals in 19 matches, although three of those goals came in his last two appearances against Burnley and Brighton.

By contrast, Hojlund has rediscovered his sharpness in Italy. With nine goals already to his name, he appears more confident and free from the pressure that weighed on him during his second season at Old Trafford.

Hojlund’s Future at Napoli

Hojlund now looks more comfortable at Napoli, but he is aware that higher goal productivity is still required.

This is important to activate the clause obligating Napoli to make his transfer permanent.

The Italian club must secure qualification for the Champions League in order for Hojlund’s move to become permanent.

At present, Conte’s side are involved in intense competition both in the Serie A title race and in the battle for a top-four finish.

Inter and AC Milan occupy the top two positions in the standings, while Juventus and AS Roma continue to apply pressure in the pursuit of places in Europe’s elite competition.