Materazzi: Lukaku Might Not Do So Well With Conte At Napoli
Marco Materazzi is involved in the fight for the Scudetto in the 2024-25 season, but claims that Romelu Lukaku will "regret his departure from Inter" and that he might not get along so well with Antonio Conte in Napoli.
The 2006 World Cup winner spoke to reporters at a presentation event for the new Serie A season, as the fixture list was drawn up on Thursday.
The former defender has never been shy to criticize Lukaku or remind everyone where he stands as a die-hard Inter fan, so he couldn't wait to put his foot up against the Chelsea striker.
"Lukaku has done the rounds, this time we will see where he finishes, but it is always him who makes the decision," Materazzi said.
"The truth is that so far he has not won anything with Inter. He should regret leaving and admit it was a mistake, because he was happy there.
"Things have changed. We have Marcus Thuram, one of the best strikers in Italy alongside Lautaro Martinez, we signed Mehdi Taremi and we have a very strong squad. It's certainly Lukaku who regrets, not Inter."
The Belgian international has left Inter not once but twice, first to be sold to Chelsea and then back on loan in search of another Serie A experience.
He moved to Roma last season but that loan expired and was not extended, and he has been linked with a move to Milan or Napoli.
Given how good Lukaku was under Conte at Inter, the question is whether he can replicate that form.
"I don't know, but I've seen evidence that it was more than just these two who gave Inter strength - Alessandro Bastoni, Nicole Barella and Lautaro Martinez.
"I know Lukaku trains hard with Conte, but Serie A has improved in the last three or four years. "He will not be on the pitch anymore because he knows he is in the best team and he will have to prove himself again in front of impatient fans," Materazzi warned.
"Conte is the kind of coach who can give us 10 to 12 extra points, especially if we don't get distracted by the cup games."
0 Comments