Gazzetta: Napoli’s Hojlund set to start in Champions League opener | OneFootball

Gazzetta - Napoli, Hojlund could start immediately! The situation

Rejuvenated, from an easy goal but still useful for morale. Ramsus Hojlund is back. In fact, yesterday he crossed the gates of Castel Volturno for the first time to make himself available to Antonio Conte and really start this new Neapolitan adventure. He had already made contact with the city during the last days of the transfer market. The enthusiasm of Naples immediately won him over, but there were World Cup qualifiers waiting for him. Now, however, Hojlund can start thinking only about Napoli, the badge he wears on his chest and that Champions League that saw him as a great protagonist two seasons ago, in his debut year at Manchester United: 5 goals in six appearances, 489 total minutes on the field. And that feeling of being in front of a striker with enormous potential. And that's why Napoli bet on him without hesitation, despite a total deal of 50 million euros. But after Lukaku's injury, a striker capable of making a difference, in Italy as in Europe, was needed.

Rasmus starts again from Napoli, trying to follow the example of the friend who preceded him on the path. Scott McTominay was able to make an immediate impact, first by changing the team's tactical setup to find him a starting place, then by scoring goals and performances: MVP of the A and second best Napoli scorer with 12 goals. To Hojlund, however, Conte asks for the goals and offensive involvement that Romelu Lukaku was able to guarantee for the Azzurri's action. Rasmus has different characteristics, perhaps more similar to the first Lukaku, the one who led Inter to the scudetto after eleven years of waiting. The Dane attacks the depth very well, has fast and resistant legs. Despite his height (191 centimeters), he knows how to sprint in the first meters and hold well on the long. And now Conte is studying how to insert him into the new Neapolitan mechanisms: the temptation to give him a chance already in Florence is there. It's strong. The debut will certainly come, but Rasmus would like to experience the emotion of the first start immediately. He left Manchester after being sidelined from the project: he chose Napoli to feel like an important player again, but also for the club's ambition and the passion of the city. And this new challenge electrifies him.

Conte is looking for new goals, and not just to make up for Lukaku's absence. Last year the blunt attack was often a problem for his Napoli. And the coach has always emphasized the lack of ruthlessness in front of goal. Hojlund is not a sniper, but he has a good feeling with the goal. He will have to learn to do the pivot work that Romelu guaranteed and that Lucca is also trying to metabolize, having remained dry in the first two seasonal outings. Lorenzo had his chances both in Reggio Emilia and with Cagliari, but he did not affect the result. But the packed schedule will soon give him other opportunities. He will have to take advantage of them, however, because Hojlund's arrival risks clipping his wings. Two strikers with different characteristics but with the same mission: to take Napoli high.

Carlo Gioia

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.