The Nigerian striker’s boots have proven too big for Romelu Lukaku to fill at Napoli
Romelu Lukaku’s struggles in a Napoli shirt have reached a boiling point, with fans growing increasingly frustrated after his ineffective display in the team’s 1-0 loss to Lazio at the Stadio Diego Maradona.
The Belgian striker, who was brought in as a marquee signing to replace Victor Osimhen, has failed to fill the void left by the Nigerian star, sparking questions about Napoli’s decision-making in the transfer market.
Lukaku underwhelms after Napoli move
Lukaku’s lack of impact was glaring against Lazio. He managed just 15 touches in 90 minutes, completed 10 passes, and failed to register a single shot on target.
Substituted in injury time for Giovanni Simeone, Lukaku was met with a chorus of boos from the home crowd, reflecting the mounting discontent with his performances.
This disappointing outing adds to a troubling pattern for the 31-year-old. While he has scored five goals in 13 Serie A appearances, only three have come in the last two months.
Lukaku’s uninspired performances in key matches against Juventus, Atalanta, and Inter have left Napoli’s attack looking toothless, forcing manager Antonio Conte to substitute him in all those games.
Napoli fans long for Osimhen
The contrast between Lukaku and his predecessor, Victor Osimhen, has not gone unnoticed. While Osimhen consistently delivered match-winning performances, Lukaku has struggled to replicate that level of impact.
The decision to replace Osimhen with Lukaku, a player who commands significant wages but has shown inconsistent form, is now being widely questioned by both fans and analysts.
While Lukaku continues to struggle in Serie A, Osimhen has been thriving in the Turkish Super Lig, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in nine games.
For a player of Lukaku’s pedigree, expectations were sky-high. However, as boos echo around the Stadio Maradona, it’s clear that his performances have fallen far short of what Napoli fans had hoped for—and that the shadow of Victor Osimhen continues to loom large.
