Romelu Lukaku makes a mockery of Chelsea

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 26 Jan 2025 13:45 GMT
• 4 min read

Romelu Lukaku scored yet another big goal on Saturday as Napoli took a massive step towards winning the Scudetto.

Napoli came from behind at the Stadio Maradona to beat Juventus 2-1, with Lukaku scoring the winner from the penalty spot.

The win took Napoli six points clear at the top of the Serie A table, although Inter have two games in hand.

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However, Napoli are looking well set to win the Scudetto having won two huge games in succession.

Lukaku was the key man in both wins as he scored a late header last week to clinch a 3-2 victory at Atalanta.

The 31-year-old has been a pivotal player this season under Antonio Conte, who demanded his signing from Chelsea last summer.

Although Lukaku hasn't been as prolific as he was at his peak - with nine goals in 20 games - he has been crucial to Napoli's overall play.

Every attack comes through Lukaku, with the Belgian's link-up and hold-up play world class. He has also managed an impressive six assists.

All this makes a mockery of Chelsea, who made Lukaku their record signing in 2021 only for the Belgian to flop badly in his one season at the club before going on a succession of loans and then being sold at a big loss.

Lukaku had enjoyed a brilliant start to his career at Napoli, scoring two goals and delivering two assists in his first two matches - one of them as a substitute and the other as a starter.

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He then went off the boil for a while before really hitting form once again in the last couple of months to help Napoli to a seven-game winning streak.

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

Lukaku replaced Victor Osimhen, who moved to Galatasaray on loan after failing to get a transfer to a major European league before the end of the transfer window.

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

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 had 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.

All in all, the €115m transfer has proved to be one of the most painful in Chelsea's history.