Antonio Conte's Critique: Ruben Amorim's Handling of Striker Rasmus Hojlund Examined
Antonio Conte has recently taken a veiled swipe at Ruben Amorim and Manchester United over the treatment of striker Rasmus Hojlund during his loan spell at Napoli. Let's delve into the details of this football drama.

Antonio Conte has seemingly hit out at Ruben Amorim and Manchester United for their handling of striker Rasmus Hojlund, who is currently enjoying a loan spell with Serie A side Napoli. The Danish striker had a tough second season at Old Trafford and was sent to Italy as Amorim preferred summer signing Benjamin Sesko, who has scored five goals in 19 appearances for the Red Devils so far. Amorim has since been sacked and replaced by Michael Carrick, who will preside over the club for the remainder of the campaign.The 22-year-old had a promising first season at United after being signed by former boss Erik ten Hag, scoring 16 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions and helping them win the FA Cup, but after a second year that yielded only 10 more strikes in 52 matches, Amorim made the decision to cut the Denmark international out of his thinking and instead targeted Sesko, who arrived from RB Leipzig.Hojlund has been in better touch under Conte at Napoli, finding the back of the net on nine occasions so far this term and looking more like the player who convinced United to splash out £64 million (€73.8m/$85.9m) following his one-season spell at Atalanta. That improvement has been noted by Conte, who praised the young striker and also sent a subtle dig towards Amorim and United, suggesting that Hojlund has benefitted from working under a better coaching system.Speaking ahead of Napoli's Serie A clash with Parma on Wednesday night, Conte said: "Rasmus is a player who has improved so much since he first arrived. He is 22 years old, we saw great potential in him, but inevitably these lads need to be coached by people who can improve them, teach them how to work for the team, the positioning, when to go towards the ball and when to attack the space."Our job is to keep improving all the players and make them better than when they first arrive."Amorim had clearly decided he had seen enough of Hojlund by the end of the 2024-25 season as United were instantly linked with new strikers at the start of the summer transfer window. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were brought in from Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers early in the summer, while Sesko arrived later in the window as Amorim's new No.9.The picture at Old Trafford is now much different, with Amorim sacked at the start of 2026 following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United, after which he also took aim at director of football Jason Wilcox. Darren Fletcher took charge of two games as a caretaker manager before Michael Carrick was handed the interim role until the end of the season.It's also been a tricky start to the United career of Sesko. The Slovenia international, who like Hojlund is 22 years of age, has scored five goals in 19 appearances so far this term, though three of those have come in his last two games thanks to strikes against Burnley and Brighton.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingConversely, Hojlund is enjoying a more prolific campaign in front of goal and looks to have shrugged off some of the anxiety that was plaguing him during his second season at United. With nine goals so far, the striker will be feeling more settled at Napoli, though he will know many more strikes will be required if he is to trigger the obligation for the Partonopei to sign him permanently.The Italian outfit need to qualify for the Champions League for Hojlund's move to be automatically sealed and Conte's side are locked in a fascinating race for both the Serie A title and places in Europe's elite club competition next term. Inter and AC Milan sit in first and second place in Italy's top flight, while Juventus and Roma are also firmly in the hunt for top-four positions.
Conte's Critique of Amorim and United
Antonio Conte has subtly criticized Ruben Amorim and Manchester United regarding the management of young striker Rasmus Hojlund. Hojlund, who struggled in his second season at Old Trafford, was sent on loan to Napoli where he has thrived under Conte's guidance, scoring nine goals this season. Conte's remarks suggested that Hojlund's improvement is attributable to working under a more effective coaching system at Napoli, implying a lack of proper development during his time at United.
Amorim's Decision and United's Striker Dilemma
Ruben Amorim's choice to phase out Hojlund in favor of Benjamin Sesko, following a disappointing second season for the Danish striker at Manchester United, raised eyebrows. Despite a promising start with 16 goals in his debut season, Hojlund's form dipped, leading to Amorim's preference for Sesko. However, the arrival of new strikers like Mbeumo and Cunha further complicated the forward lineup at United.
Sesko's Transition and Amorim's Dismissal
Benjamin Sesko's integration at Manchester United hasn't been seamless, but recent goals hint at his potential. Amorim's dismissal in 2026, after criticism of Hojlund and clashes with the club's hierarchy, altered the landscape at Old Trafford. Darren Fletcher's brief stint as interim manager paved the way for Michael Carrick to take charge until the season's end, creating uncertainty amidst the club's striker situation.
Hojlund's Revival at Napoli
Under Antonio Conte's tutelage at Napoli, Rasmus Hojlund has rejuvenated his career, showcasing his talent with consistent goal-scoring displays. With Napoli vying for Champions League qualification which triggers a permanent transfer clause for Hojlund, the stakes are high. The Danish striker's success at Napoli serves as a testament to the impact of quality coaching and the importance of suitable player development strategies in football.






