The decision to introduce Romelu Lukaku to replace the turbulent Victor Osimhen raises serious questions, especially given the Belgian striker’s performances since his arrival in Naples.
The former Chelsea player, seen as an unexpected choice to fill the void left by the Nigerian striker, often struggles to meet the high expectations surrounding him.
Although Lukaku has been involved in 14 goals in his 20 appearances, his contributions fall far short of Osimhen’s impressive 40 goal involvements in the 2022/23 season.
Last season, Osimhen played a key role in leading Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years, setting a threshold that Lukaku is yet to reach.
In a recent interview, Lukaku addressed the criticism he has received since arriving at Napoli, shedding light on why coach Antonio Conte chose him as Osimhen’s replacement.
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Despite mixed reviews regarding his performances, former Serie A striker Igor Protti has expressed his support for the decision to sign Lukaku. The 57-year-old former striker praised Lukaku’s style of play, highlighting its potential to benefit the club’s goal aspirations.
In a statement, Protti said: “He’s one of those strikers I would have loved to play with because I’ve always preferred strikers who create space for me. Conte does an incredible job, and I was convinced that Naples made a big move this year after last season. The choice of coach was perfect; Conte has never failed and has always coached in top leagues. This season’s merit. returns to Conte, who wanted a player like Lukaku, whom he knew well Antonio’s great strength is his ability to adapt to the players at his disposal, without limiting himself to a single style of play.
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Regarding Napoli’s quest for the Scudetto, Protti added: “Not having European competitions can be an advantage for a team with serious title ambitions. For me, the next five games will reveal a lot about Napoli’s season.”
Protti appears to be one of the few to openly support Lukaku, despite his inconsistent performances at Napoli so far. The next few matches will be crucial in determining whether Lukaku can validate the trust that has been placed in him, especially as Napoli prepare to face Atalanta in a major clash at the top of Serie A.
Nigerian football expert, Taiwo Poopola, has commented on Lukaku’s role as Osimhen’s replacement, suggesting that while it can be argued that Lukaku possesses superior abilities, matching the Nigerian’s achievements at Naples poses a challenge formidable. “Lukaku is a great striker, with almost 400 career goals. I could even say he is better than Osimhen. However, reaching the level Osimhen reached at Napoli will be difficult. Lead Napoli to a Scudetto, finish better scorer and being the best striker will be a challenge, but Lukaku remains a fantastic striker.”
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From another perspective, Lukaku commented on the differences between the Premier League and Serie A, pointing out that the gap largely comes from their economic power. The 31-year-old insisted that several Serie A clubs are fully capable of competing with their English counterparts on the basis of footballing merit.
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