Rasmus Hojlund is up to double figures for Napoli this season and he is likely to make his move there from Man Utd permanent this summer.
Rasmus Hojlund celebrates scoring for Napoli against Chelsea on Wednesday
There are worse things to be known as than a Champions League specialist, and Rasmus Hojlund continued his goalscoring streak in Europe’s premier competition on Wednesday, netting for Napoli in their agonising defeat to Chelsea.
Hojlund has now scored three goals in seven Champions League games for Napoli, having struck five in six for Manchester United. The unfortunate irony for the Dane is that on both occasions his own efforts haven’t been enough.
In 2023/24, United exited at the group stage despite Hojlund’s best efforts in front of goal. While he struggled to score in the Premier League, he seemed to have no problem in the Champions League. Now, Napoli have crashed and burned in the league phase, failing to even secure a play-off spot.
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Their defeat to Chelsea condemned Antonio Conte’s injury-hit side to an early exit from the competition. That could yet be good news for United regarding the future of Hojlund.
The 22-year-old is on loan at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this season, with Napoli having the option to sign him permanently for £38million at the end of the season. Importantly, that option becomes an obligation if Napoli qualify for next season’s Champions League.
That would have seemed a formality for last season’s Serie A champions, who also added Kevin De Bruyne to their squad in the summer. But De Bruyne hasn’t kicked a ball since October, and Napoli’s title challenge has faded.
They have won just one of their last five matches and a 3-0 defeat to Juventus on Sunday seemed to end their faint hopes of a title challenge. They now sit fourth in Serie A and the race for Champions League football is a tight one.
Hojlund has already bettered his league goal tally from last season(Image: Elianton/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Italy are currently second in the UEFA coefficient table, meaning fifth place would be enough to qualify, but Spain and Germany are hot on their heels and that situation could change before the end of the season. As it stands, Napoli are just one point ahead of Juventus in fifth and only three points clear of Como in sixth.
With injuries biting, it is set to be a dramatic race for Champions League football. As much as it will disappoint their Neapolitans, their chances of qualifying through Serie A will be enhanced by the fact that they don’t have European football in the second half of the season.
Hojlund’s goal against Chelsea was his 10th of the season in all competitions. He has been a solid performer so far and the expectation is that Napoli will try to keep him, whatever happens.
But for United, it is far easier if they secure Champions League football and the £38million option becomes an obligation.
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