Francesco Antonucci said that the weight of being labeled the new Eden Hazard hindered his early career, reflecting on a journey that took him from Anderlecht’s youth ranks through Ajax and Monaco before finding stability in Qatar, DHnet reported.
Early Comparisons to Eden Hazard Pressured Francesco Antonucci
Recognized as one of the standout talents in Anderlecht’s academy during his youth, Francesco Antonucci earned comparisons to international star Eden Hazard at a very young age. Reflecting on that period, the midfielder explained that the intense scrutiny began when he was just 12 or 13 years old, creating an environment where the pressure to perform naturally hindered his development.
“When you are in the thick of it, you don’t really feel it,” Antonucci told DHnet. “But with hindsight, with all that pressure, all those labels, you expect a lot. In fact, you want to do so well that it ends up working against you. You force it and it’s no longer natural.”
Youth Development Across Europe
Antonucci departed Anderlecht at the age of 15 to join the youth academy at Ajax, a decision he believes was correct at the time because it pushed him out of his comfort zone and stripped away the privileges he enjoyed in Belgium.
Despite the elite company, the intense competition and lack of immediate playing time at age 17 made the move difficult, leading to loan spells before eventual permanent transfers, including a later move to Feyenoord where the arrival of manager Arne Slot altered tactical plans for his position.
Revival in the Qatari League
Now settled in Doha for his fourth season in Qatar and third in the top division, Antonucci has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign with three goals and two assists across four matches following an injury-plagued previous year that involved foot surgery and a relegation battle. Dismissing the notion that his move to the Middle East was strictly financially motivated, he emphasized that the decision was driven by family and lifestyle priorities after arriving initially when his club competed in the second division.
He noted that the local standard of play continues to rise annually, allowing him to test himself against prominent players such as Yacine Brahimi, Younès Belhanda, and Marco Verratti.
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