The new Napoli finds itself in a difficult situation which highlights the performances of the Danish center forward RasmusHojlund. Arriving at the club in the 2025 summer season, the player did not even have a day of training camp with his teammates and immediately had the task of replacing the injured Lukaku. Despite these circumstances, his performance under the guidance of AntonioConte was solid: 24 appearances with 3635 minutes of play, a goal every 151 minutes and eight assists, a personal best that demonstrated his ability to contribute even without scoring.
With the arrival of Massimiliano Allegri, the situation has radically changed. This season, Hojlund has only two goals and no assists in 808 minutes, a span of 404 minutes for a goal, more than two and a half times higher than the previous season. The player had already shown a good start, scoring on the second day against Como, but his ability to make an impact in the final stages progressively diminished, even when Napoli found the net with greater consistency.
Over the summer Hojlund said he felt freer within the new system and hoped to turn that freedom into a more significant offensive contribution. Allegri, for his part, had identified the Dane as the offensive reference for the new Napoli, underlining the player's growth potential in front of goal. However, the first weeks of the championship have shown the opposite result: the midfielder seems isolated, away from the area and with fewer dangerous balls to turn into opportunities.
The comparison between the two seasons is frank: 24 contributions in 3635 minutes against just two in 808, going from one contribution every 151 minutes to one every 404. Napoli, which aims to compete for victory in the centenary year, must therefore reconsider the position of the center forward. The issue does not only concern Hojlund, but also the alternatives in the role who have failed to unblock themselves. With Conte the Dane was an integral part of the combinations and the banks, while now he appears more isolated.
In conclusion, Allegri's priority is to recover the best Hojlund possible, both for his individual value and for the need to strengthen Napoli's attack. The club will have to evaluate whether the problem lies in the player's lack of brilliance or in the way the new system is used. The future of the midfielder and his performances remains uncertain, but the team is aware of the importance of finding a quick solution to remain competitive.