Conte hints at Amorim blame in Hojlund slump

• Antonio Conte suggested “arrogant” coaching has stalled Rasmus Højlund’s growth, in comments that read as a pointed jab at Ruben Amorim.
• Højlund is on a season-long loan at Napoli from Manchester United, with a deal that becomes permanent if Napoli qualify for the Champions League.
• Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna called the permanent move a “formality.”

Antonio Conte has aimed a subtle shot at former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim while discussing Rasmus Højlund, suggesting some coaches fail young strikers by refusing to adjust when things go wrong.

Højlund joined Napoli on a season-long loan last summer, with the Serie A club obligated to make the move permanent if they qualify for the Champions League. United signed the Denmark forward from Atalanta in 2023 for £64 million, and he scored 26 goals in 95 appearances, but his minutes dried up at times under Amorim and he did not play in any of the club’s first four Premier League matches this season.

Conte has used Højlund regularly in Naples. The 22-year-old made a fast start, scoring nine times in his first 20 appearances. Asked about his forward’s form ahead of the weekend win over Sassuolo, Conte delivered a message that sounded less like general philosophy and more like a reference to what happened before Højlund arrived.

“Some young coaches nowadays are arrogant and don’t want to adapt. They see a young striker struggling, and instead of training him, they blame him,” Conte told a news conference on Friday ahead of the weekend win over Sassuolo.

“They always complain and blame everyone but themselves, because everything is handed to them on a silver platter.”

Napoli’s hierarchy has also spoken confidently about Højlund’s longer-term future at the club, framing the transfer as a matter of timing rather than negotiation. Sporting director Giovanni Manna said Napoli pushed hard to land him, and stressed that qualification for the Champions League would trigger the contractual mechanism that turns the loan into a permanent deal.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has said he considers Højlund’s permanent transfer from Manchester United a “formality.”

“We did everything we could to sign him,” Manna told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

“There were more storied clubs interested, but his will was crucial, and we are proud of it. There’s an option to buy and an obligation to buy if we qualify for the Champions League.

“The player considers himself a Napoli player, and the same goes for us. This is extremely important.”

Napoli sit third in Serie A, six points behind leaders Internazionale, with Juventus next on the schedule on Sunday.