Napoli announce Rasmus Hojlund

Rasmus Hojlund knows ‘how crazy’ the Napoli fans are, but assures this will be ‘different’ to his Atalanta experience in Serie A, as he became ‘a better player’ with Manchester United.

The striker is no stranger to Serie A, having already played for Atalanta in the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 10 goals with four assists in 34 appearances.

He returned via Manchester United, with a loan move set at €6m plus obligation to buy for a further €44m if Napoli qualify for the Champions.

The Dane was greeted by cheering fans as he arrived for his medical tests and admitted the situation felt “crazy” after a long wait for the move to go through.

Hojlund knows what awaits him at Napoli

“I was very excited, because it’s a team that just won the league. I also know how great the fans are, the city, and I’m very happy for this opportunity,” Hojlund told the official Napoli YouTube Channel.

The day he landed on Italian soil, his new teammates were busy playing a dramatic Serie A victory against Cagliari.

“Yesterday when I arrived, I watched the game in the restaurant, I saw the win at the last minute with a great goal from Anguissa. It’s been some good hours here back in Italy, I’m very happy to be here.”

Naturally, he already knows his former Manchester United teammate Scott McTominay, and spoke “a little bit” to Romelu Lukaku, who was “one of my idols when I was younger.”

While he was relatively unknown and shot to fame with Atalanta, all eyes are going to be on him this time at the Stadio Maradona.

“It’s different now, obviously, as I come with more experience and I’m a better football player. I come with a lot of international experience, I played in the Premier League, Champions, Europa League, and in multiple countries.

“I come with a lot to prove, I want to show myself in the best team in Italy, and Napoli is going to be very, very good.”

The medical tests were performed in Rome, then he travelled down to Naples for the contract signing.

“I always work hard, I like to say I want to die on the pitch, to give everything for the team, to score goals, create, and fight for everything.”

It’s a very different experience for Hojlund coming from Manchester to posing on a sun-drenched terrace in front of Vesuvius.

“The tifosi are very, very good here. I played in Italy before, I played with Atalanta, I know how crazy they are here, how much they love football, I saw in the streets and at the Maradona stadium, it’s incredible.

“I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity, I’m very, very grateful and I’m going to do my best to make us win something this year again, and to do the fans and club proud.”