Chelsea FC have got a big earner off their payroll: The Blues sell Romelu Lukaku (31) to SSC Napoli, where the Belgian wants to build on the most personally successful period of his career – with a coach to match
There are plenty of pictures of warm embraces between the two. It’s quite possible that at least one more will be added in the 2024/25 season. Striker Romelu Lukaku and coach Antonio Conte are working together again with immediate effect – this time in Naples.
The Italian champions of the 2022/23 season have signed the 31-year-old Belgian on a permanent deal from Chelsea FC. The deal is worth 30 million euros, which could be increased by bonuses. In Naples, the beefy striker (“Big Rome”) will receive a three-year contract until June 30, 2027.
For Lukaku, it will be about finally “arriving”. After two very successful years at Inter Milan, the Belgian moved to Chelsea FC in 2021 for over €100 million to try his hand on the island once again – he had previously been with the CFC between 2011 and 2013 and then West Brom and Everton FC. However, the Blues loaned him straight back to Inter in the summer of 2022 and transferred him to Roma for the 2023/24 season. A long-lasting love story could never develop – also because he had disappointed Inter captain Lautaro Martinez in between and turned the Juve fans against him.
For a new love story – perhaps it will last longer this time – the conditions are definitely right under Conte. Lukaku has scored more goals under any coach in his career to date. In 95 competitive matches, he has already scored a remarkable 64 goals, including 17 assists. They will now also be hoping for a haul of more than 20 goals in Naples at the recently relegated traditional club
Is Osimhen still fit?
Victor Osimhen, Napoli’s top scorer of the previous season with 15 Serie A goals (only 25 appearances due to injury) and guarantor of the championship season, is still flirting with a departure and was not even part of the squad on the first two matchdays of the new season (0:3 at Hellas Verona and 3:0 against Bologna). Of course, Chelsea FC are also in the running, as are Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia, among others. A higher transfer fee and a significantly higher salary are being offered for the player, which Osimhen is said to be seriously considering.
Meanwhile, Lukaku’s help is desperately needed in Naples after a worrying start to the season: Napoli narrowly missed out on a Coppa defeat against Serie B club Modena – after a 0-0 draw, a penalty shoot-out had to help. And despite the recent 3-0 win against Bologna, it has become clear that an anchor player is needed in the southern Italian side’s attack as soon as possible