Romelu Lukaku: Victor Osimhen’s Replacement Scores on Napoli Debut
- Romelu Lukaku made a splash on his debut for Napoli, scoring late to guide them to a dramatic comeback win
- The Belgian, who joined Napoli from Chelsea, was at the centre of a protracted deal all summer
- Upon his arrival, the 31-year-old was handed the No.9 shirt which Victor Osimhen originally occupied as reported by other media sources but Napoli later unveiled a Number 11 Shirt which he wore for his debut
The Belgian striker, who joined Napoli in a highly anticipated transfer, wasted no time in making his presence felt on the pitch during Saturday night’s clash.
Romelu Lukaku’s jersey number is still an unsettled issue as the club has now displayed a jersey with his name and number 11.
There were earlier reports of the newly recruited striker getting the number 9 jersey after Victor Osimhen was left out of Napoli’s squad for the season.
According to the BBC, the transfer was largely orchestrated by Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte, who previously coached Lukaku during two highly successful seasons at Inter Milan.
Under Conte’s guidance, Lukaku thrived, netting 24 goals in Serie A during the 2020-21 season, a key factor in Inter’s title-winning campaign.
This prolific form was what initially prompted Chelsea to bring him back to Stamford Bridge for a hefty £97.5 million fee. However, Lukaku’s second spell at Chelsea was marked by loan stints, first back at Inter and then at Roma, before he returned to Italy with Napoli.
His decisive goal in the second minute of stoppage time set the stage for a complete turnaround, as Cameroonian midfielder Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa added another goal shortly afterwards to seal the comeback win.
