Allegri Takes Over at Napoli: What It Means for McTominay and Hojlund

Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund face fresh uncertainty at Napoli as the club prepares for another seismic change in the dugout.

Antonio Conte is out. Massimiliano Allegri is in – and not everyone in Naples is celebrating.

Allegri in, anger rising

The former Juventus and AC Milan coach has reportedly agreed a two-year deal to replace Conte at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, according to Sky Sports. At 58, Allegri steps back into work quickly after being sacked by Milan following their failure to qualify for the Champions League.

On paper, it is a heavyweight appointment: a coach decorated with Serie A titles, a serial winner who last lifted the Scudetto in 2018 with Juventus.

On the streets – and more loudly, online – the mood is very different.

Sections of the Napoli support have launched a campaign against the decision, arguing that Allegri’s profile jars with the club’s current vision. For them, his pragmatic, often conservative style and his recent struggles at Milan feel like a step away from the identity they want to see. Milan have undergone a full reset since his departure, and that decline still lingers in the memory.

Napoli’s hierarchy, though, are pushing ahead. The Conte era is over almost as soon as it began, and Allegri is being lined up as the man to steady the ship.

McTominay’s rise, and the questions it brings

Amid the turmoil, Scott McTominay has quietly become one of Serie A’s standout performers.

Since his 2024 move from Manchester United, the Scotland international has driven Napoli’s midfield, helping the club win the Serie A title in his first season in Italy. His impact has been sharp, decisive and consistent enough to trigger transfer rumours back in England.

Premier League clubs are watching. Conte’s departure will only turn up the volume.

McTominay’s form, his growing status in Italy and the uncertainty over Napoli’s long-term direction under Allegri make him a natural target. A coach change always prompts reassessment: will Allegri build around him, or could the new regime open the door to a lucrative return to England?

For now, it is speculation. But the timing is awkward for Napoli, who can ill afford to lose one of the pillars of their recent success.

Hojlund’s future tied to Champions League

Rasmus Hojlund’s situation is different, but just as significant.

The Danish striker joined McTominay in Naples last season, reuniting the former United pair in Serie A. They could not repeat their title triumph, with Napoli finishing second, 11 points behind champions Inter Milan.

Hojlund’s stint so far has been on loan, yet the move is set to become permanent. United inserted an obligation-to-buy clause into the deal: if Napoli qualified for the Champions League, they would be committed to a £38 million transfer.

Napoli hit that target. The obligation is triggered.

The formal announcement has not yet arrived, but Hojlund is expected to complete his permanent switch in the coming weeks. Conte’s exit is not expected to alter that trajectory. The framework is in place, the conditions met, and Napoli plan to move ahead.

So while McTominay’s name swirls in the rumour mill, Hojlund’s path looks far more defined – a long-term bet for a club trying to stay among Italy’s elite.

A new era, or a step backwards?

Napoli now stand at a crossroads.

A fanbase already uneasy with Allegri’s appointment is watching closely to see how he handles two high-profile imports from Old Trafford. McTominay, a title winner and one of Serie A’s form midfielders. Hojlund, a young forward about to be locked in as a £38m investment.

Allegri arrives with medals, scars and a reputation that divides opinion. The players know what comes next: new ideas, new demands, and, for some, new doubts.

For McTominay and Hojlund, the Conte project they signed up for has vanished. What replaces it under Allegri will decide whether Napoli’s ex-United duo become the backbone of a new cycle – or the next big names to test the market.