Napoli Transfer Market: Romelu Lukaku Slams the Door with Harsh Words

It took just about ten minutes to see Romelu Lukaku back in the Champions League. The Belgian forward returned to the field in a Fenerbahçe jersey, coming on late in the first leg of the playoff against Paulo Fonseca’s Lyon, a match that ended 1-1. He’s not yet in peak physical condition, but according to Big Rom, that’s set to improve quickly.

In a post-game interview with Belgian television, Lukaku spoke about his future and also explained the reasons that led him to leave Napoli, using words that were anything but gentle. “I signed for one season with an option for another; I hope to honor these two years, after which I’ll return home,” the striker explained.

Lukaku then set a specific goal for his career. “I’ll be back in shape soon; I’ve always said I want to keep playing until 2030, even with the national team. After that, it’ll be ‘game over’: there are plenty of players who manage to play soccer until they’re 40. It’s a matter of mindset: if you always listen to other people’s opinions, you’ll become unhappy, but I take care of myself. Now I’m back.”

The Belgian then looked back on the past twelve months, bluntly calling them “the worst year of my life.” It was a period marked by the death of his father Roger, physical problems, and the end of his time at Napoli.

Lukaku was particularly blunt about his decision to leave Napoli: “Why did I choose to leave? I heard certain things, and certain decisions were made… That’s all. If that’s how it went, then it was better for me to leave.” Finally, he offered a clear rebuttal to those who have questioned his athletic condition: “The claim that I’m not in shape is simply false. They probably said that in Italy to undermine me. I’m 100% fit to play.”