Rasmus Hojlund calls his Napoli loan a great decision after winning the Italian Super Cup, as David Neres fires Conte’s side past Bologna.
Napoli lifted the Italian Super Cup with a 2-0 win over Bologna in Riyadh. The final was played at Al Awwal Park in front of 17,869 supporters. David Neres scored both goals to seal a controlled victory. Napoli led 1-0 at half time and never looked under threat.
The opener arrived in the 39th minute through a moment of quality. Neres curled a left foot shot into the far corner from distance. Bologna struggled to respond before the break. Napoli’s defensive structure limited clear chances.
Neres doubled the lead shortly after the hour mark. Bologna were caught playing out from the back. The winger pressed aggressively and finished calmly over the goalkeeper. It was his third goal of the tournament.
The Brazilian also scored in the semifinal win over AC Milan. That strike helped Napoli reach the final earlier in the week. His contribution proved decisive across both matches. Napoli finished the competition with confidence and control.
Rasmus Hojlund described his loan move as a great decision after the final. The striker posted an image with the trophy on social media with the caption: "What a great decision looks like." His message quickly gained attention across Europe. It marked the first trophy of his Napoli career.
The 22-year-old joined Napoli on loan in September. He has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 19 appearances in all competitions. He also found the net against Milan in the Italian Cup semifinal. His form has improved steadily.
Hojlund arrived at Manchester United for £72 million in 2023 from Atalanta. He scored just four league goals from 32 games last season. Opportunities became limited and he was allowed to leave on loan. Napoli included an obligation to buy next summer.
That clause is valued at £38 million. Napoli view the move as long term planning. Scott McTominay also featured in the final and claimed his second trophy with the club. Both players completed the full match in Riyadh.
Napoli have now won the Italian Super Cup three times. Previous successes came in 1990 and 2014. The competition expanded in 2023 to include four teams. It is contracted to remain in Saudi Arabia until 2029.
Antonio Conte’s side have won seven of their last nine competitive matches. They currently sit third in Serie A. Napoli are one point behind AC Milan and two behind leaders Inter. Momentum continues to build heading into January.
The opening goal settled Napoli nerves early. Neres dominated wide areas throughout the match. Bologna struggled to match Napoli’s intensity. Hojlund’s movement created space even without scoring.
Conte praised his squad’s focus after the match. Napoli created several chances beyond the two goals. The clean sheet underlined defensive discipline. It was a professional performance from start to finish.
Napoli return to Serie A action after their excursions in the Middle East. Attention now shifts back to the title race when they take on Cremonese away from home on December 28th. Hojlund will aim to maintain his scoring run. Napoli will hope Super Cup success fuels domestic momentum. Bologna, who are sixth in the league standings, return to domestic action when they host Sassuolo on December 28th.
