It’s not just Cristiano Ronaldo. The Romelu Lukaku scandal is making headlines in Belgium
Seven minutes in two games and a disappointment that’s becoming increasingly hard to hide: Romelu Lukaku is reportedly ready to make a sensational decision about his future with Belgium. Meanwhile, Van Bommel’s team is looking to bounce back tonight in Liège against Turkey, following their home loss to France—which came after a comfortable away win in Rome against Roberto Mancini’s Italy.
Belgium is coming off a home loss to the French—a 0-1 defeat that was narrow only on the scoreboard, given what unfolded on the field. The Red Devils will have the chance to bounce back at 8:45 p.m. against a Turkish team that remains winless with zero points following losses to France and Italy and a goal difference of -4.
Kevin De Bruyne will once again be the Belgian team’s key player, but attention is inevitably focused on Lukaku’s situation. In the first two matches under Van Bommel, the forward has played a total of just seven minutes. A decision that reportedly deeply disappointed Big Rom. In Belgium, rumors are growing increasingly persistent, and there is even talk of the possibility that Lukaku might decide to end his time with the national team.
After all, Lukaku’s relationship with the Belgian national team has become one of the hottest topics in recent months, especially in light of what happened on the first matchday of the Nations League. In Italy’s 2-0 victory in Rome, it was Big Rom himself who sparked a minor diplomatic incident in the post-match press conference: after the final whistle, the striker mimed the match’s score with his fingers at Gianluigi Donnarumma, provoking a furious reaction from the Italian goalkeeper, who chased him all the way to midfield. A scuffle ensued, featuring harsh words and some shoving, so much so that referee Siebert was forced to caution both players.
On the field, Belgium’s victory that evening at the Olimpico was built on two individual errors by the Azzurri: the opening goal in the 21st minute came after De Bruyne stole the ball from Romano and played a through ball to Godts, while Lukebakio’s second goal in the 69th minute capitalized on a lapse by Barella. It was a performance that showcased the quality of Van Bommel’s team, with De Bruyne as the undisputed star, though Lukaku once again found himself on the sidelines.
Lukaku’s unease with the national team does not, however, come as a complete surprise, considering the statements the forward made back in the summer. In an interview with Belgian television after his Champions League debut with Fenerbahçe against Lyon, Big Rom had set a specific timeframe for his career: “I’ve always said I want to keep playing until 2030, even with the national team. After that, it’ll be ‘game over.’” Words that sounded like a solemn commitment but now seem increasingly at odds with a situation that is simply untenable for a player of his caliber.
The match in Liège against Turkey therefore represents a crucial crossroads not only for Belgium’s ambitions in Group 2 of League A, but also for the future of its most controversial star. Van Bommel will have to find the right answers on the field—and likely off it as well—to prevent the Lukaku issue from becoming an irreparable rift within the Red Devils’ locker room.
