McTominay and Hojlund Enter New Era at Napoli with Allegri

Antonio Conte has gone. Massimiliano Allegri is on his way. And for Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund, life at Napoli is about to change again.

The former Manchester United pair, who swapped Old Trafford for the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in search of stability and silverware, are preparing for a new regime after Conte’s departure and Allegri’s looming arrival in southern Italy.

Allegri in, backlash begins

Allegri, 58, has reportedly agreed a two-year deal to take over at Napoli, according to Sky Sports. The former Juventus and AC Milan coach, sacked by Milan after failing to secure Champions League qualification, will not be out of work for long.

His CV is loaded with domestic honours. He last lifted the Serie A trophy in 2018 with Juventus, one of multiple Italian titles on his record. On paper, it is the profile of a proven winner.

On the streets and online, the reaction has been very different.

Sections of the Napoli support have already launched an online campaign against the appointment, arguing that Allegri’s style and managerial profile clash with the club’s current vision. They see a coach associated with a more conservative, pragmatic approach taking charge of a club that, at its best, has thrived on bold, front-foot football.

That tension will form the backdrop for McTominay and Hojlund’s next steps.

McTominay’s rise and the transfer noise

McTominay has been one of the revelations of Serie A since his 2024 move from United. In his first season in Naples he helped drive the club to the Scudetto, immediately justifying the gamble to prise him away from the Premier League.

His form has not gone unnoticed. A stream of transfer speculation has followed, with the Scotland international repeatedly linked with a return to England. Conte’s exit will only crank that rumour mill louder. A new manager means new ideas, new favourites, new doubts.

For now, McTominay remains a central figure in a side that finished second last season, 11 points behind champions Inter Milan. He has proved he can handle the weight of expectation in a demanding football city. The question is whether Allegri sees him as the heartbeat of his midfield or a saleable asset in a squad reshaped to his taste.

Hojlund’s future turns permanent

Hojlund’s situation is more straightforward on paper, if not in emotion. The Danish striker joined Napoli on loan last season, reuniting with McTominay but ultimately falling short in the bid to defend the Serie A crown.

Napoli could not keep pace with Inter, yet Hojlund did enough for the club to trigger a significant commitment. United built an obligation-to-buy into the deal, activated if Napoli secured Champions League qualification. They did, and that clause now points to a permanent move worth £38 million.

The transfer has not been formally confirmed, but Hojlund is expected to complete the switch in the coming weeks. Conte’s departure is not expected to derail that process. The path is set; the forward is heading back to Italy on a long-term basis.

What he walks into, though, will be very different from what he left. A new coach, a fanbase split over the appointment, and a squad that has tasted both glory and disappointment in quick succession.

New era, new demands

Napoli have already lived through a rapid cycle: champions with one coach, runners-up under another, now turning to a serial winner whose last great triumph in Serie A came eight years ago. It is a club chasing continuity in a landscape that refuses to sit still.

For McTominay, the Allegri era could either cement his status as one of the league’s standout midfielders or reopen the door to the Premier League. For Hojlund, it offers a clean slate under a coach renowned for structure and tactical discipline, an environment that could sharpen his development or test his patience.

The only certainty is change. Conte has gone, Allegri is coming, and two former Manchester United players once again find themselves at the heart of a club bracing for another twist in its story.