Materazzi: ‘Lukaku should regret leaving Inter’ amid Napoli doubts | OneFootball

Marco Materazzi gives his views on the Scudetto race for 2024-25, but maintains Romelu Lukaku ‘should regret having left Inter’ and might not do so well with Antonio Conte at Napoli.

The 2006 World Cup winner spoke to reporters at the presentation event for the new Serie A season, as the fixture list will be drawn up on Thursday.

The former defender has never been shy in his criticism of Lukaku, nor in reminding everyone his own status as a die-hard Inter supporter, so could not wait to go in studs-up on the Chelsea striker.

“Lukaku has gone round the houses, we’ll see where he ends up this time, but he is the one who always makes the decision,” said Materazzi.

“The fact remains, so far the only place he won anything was at Inter. He was happy there, he should regret leaving and admit it was a mistake.

“Things have changed now, we have Marcus Thuram who is one of the best strikers in Italy along with Lautaro Martinez, we signed Mehdi Taremi and have a very strong squad. The regrets are certainly for Lukaku to have, not Inter.”

Materazzi blasts Lukaku for leaving Inter

The Belgium international left Inter not once, but twice, first for a sale to Chelsea and then when returning on loan only to seek a different Serie A experience.

He ended up at Roma last term, but that loan expired and will not be renewed, so he is linked with a move to either Milan or Napoli.

Considering how well Lukaku did under Conte at Inter, can he replicate that form?

“I don’t know about that, we saw the proof that it was more than those two giving Inter strength, like Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, Lautaro Martinez.

“Lukaku knows that with Conte he trains hard, but Serie A has improved over the last 3-4 years. He will no longer be stepping onto the pitch fully aware he is in the best team, he will have to prove himself all over again to a group of fans who won’t have much patience,” warned Materazzi.

“Conte is the kind of coach who can bring you an extra 10-12 points, especially when he’s not distracted by cup competition.”