Napoli striker Rasmus Højlund has described teammate Kevin De Bruyne as a “special talent” after the Belgian midfielder set up both goals in their 2-1 Champions League win over Sporting CP on Wednesday night.
Højlund, who netted twice to secure victory for the Italian side, praised De Bruyne’s vision and passing ability, saying it makes his work as a striker much easier.
“Playing alongside someone like De Bruyne is truly special,” the Danish forward said. “Whenever he has the ball, I just focus on attacking the space because I know the pass will come. I feel lucky to share the pitch with a player of his quality.”
De Bruyne’s class was evident once again, first splitting Sporting’s defence with a perfectly timed through ball for Højlund’s opener, before delivering a precise cross that the 21-year-old headed home to restore Napoli’s lead in the second half. The combination drew comparisons to De Bruyne’s prolific link-up with Erling Haaland during his Manchester City days.
Asked to compare the two strikers, De Bruyne noted their similarities but also highlighted their differences.
“They’re quite similar in style,” he said. “Erling is Erling, and what he’s achieved is incredible. Both love to attack space, but while Erling thrives on it constantly, Rasmus sometimes prefers to drop deep and meet the ball.”
For Højlund, the brace was particularly significant as it signaled a fresh start after a difficult period at Manchester United, where he struggled to replicate his Atalanta form following a high-profile move. Since joining Napoli on loan, however, he has quickly rediscovered his confidence, scoring three goals in five appearances across all competitions.
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