Former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku ‘could be perfect’ as a replacement for Victor Osimhen as the Premier League giants chase Napoli’s free-scoring talisman.
That is according to Aldo Serena, who represented AC Milan, Inter and Juventus during a storied Serie A career. Serena was a reliable source of goals during a number of spells at San Siro but Lukaku, in contrast, is only adding fuel to the argument that going back to your old club is a move fraught with danger.
Lukaku fired Antonio Conte’s Inter to Serie A glory in 2021. Since returning on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea, however, the Belgian has scored just five times in 19 games; Lukaku’s second spell in blue-and-black ruined by poor form and niggling injuries.
Manchester United want Napoli’s Serie A star Victor Osimhen
Serena is not writing off Lukaku on the back of two highly-underwhelming seasons. Should Napoli cash in on Capocannoniere-in-waiting Osimhen – two of Lukaku’s former employers going head-to-head for his signature – then Napoli could worse than to look at a man who will be desperate to prove that reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.
“If I were (Napoli coach Luciano) Spalletti and I couldn’t turn down a massive offer from an English club,” Serena tweets. “I’d ask Spalletti if he’d be interested in replacing Osimhen with Lukaku.
“If Inter no longer wanted to keep him, I think (Napoli) could be the perfect place for him.”
According to Il Mattino, Man United, Chelsea and co may have to part with a staggering £150 million to lure Osimhen away from the runaway Serie A leaders.
Sir Alex Ferguson famously quipped that dealing with Daniel Levy was more painful than his hip replacement. Well just wait until you are sitting across a table from Napoli honcho Aurelio de Laurentiis.
“He’s a striker you expect to score in every game,” says former Partenopei midfielder Salvatore Bagni (Libero).
Bagni believes Napoli will sell Osimhen, but only for a three-digit sum. “In July, he’ll go away for £100 to 120 million. That’s right for him.”