Romelu Lukaku sends Chelsea and Osimhen a message

Carlo Garganese

• 1 Sept 2024 08:55 BST
• 4 min read

Romelu Lukaku has made an instant impact for Napoli after inspiring his new team to a comeback victory with a debut goal.

Lukaku was introduced for his Napoli debut as a second half substitute at the Stadio Maradona on Saturday evening with his team trailing 1-0 to newly-promoted Parma.

He almost scored with his first touch before blasting home a rocket of an equaliser in the 92nd minute.

Napoli were not finished there as Andre Zambo Anguissa headed home a winner six minutes into injury time to give Antonio Conte’s men a 2-1 win.

There was no doubt that Lukaku’s introduction - despite the striker not being fully fit - gave Napoli a huge boost in the game.

In the process, Lukaku sent a message to exiled Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and his now former club Chelsea, who failed to bring in a much-needed number nine this summer.

Lukaku completed his transfer to Napoli this week in a €30 million deal with Chelsea, signing a contract until 2027

Lukaku has replaced Osimhen, who has been frozen out of the Napoli squad after failing to get a transfer before the end of the transfer window.

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Conte and Lukaku previously worked together at Inter, where the Belgian played the best football of his career on the way to winning the 2021 Scudetto.

Conte previously tried to sign Lukaku when he was Juventus and Chelsea manager.

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Lukaku was not in Chelsea’s plans for next season following his return to the club after his loan at Roma this past season.

Lukaku at Chelsea

Lukaku initially rejoined Chelsea from Inter in the summer of 2021 for a then-club record transfer fee of €115 million.

But he was a disaster during the 2021-22 campaign, falling out with manager Thomas Tuchel, criticising the club publicly and performing poorly on the pitch.

Chelsea have tried to sell Lukaku since then but had been unable to find a club willing to pay the amortised cost of his transfer each summer.

As a result, he spent the 2022-23 campaign back at Inter on loan, and then last season on loan at Roma before joining Napoli permanently.