CorSport – Napoli, Lucca struggles for minutes: January options | OneFootball

CorSport – Napoli, Lucca plays little and fails to make an impact: what could happen in January

He plays little, is unable to make the impact he would like, and with Lukaku’s return—now ever closer—his playing time risks being reduced even further. For all these reasons, Lorenzo Lucca’s future could change. Napoli is considering the possibility of loaning him out in January to allow him to showcase himself and regain those opportunities that, at the moment, are coming only intermittently. Even against Benfica, the former Udinese striker only came on at the end but was unable to change the course of the match. Conte wanted to add weight to the attack, but there were few balls, and those he did receive were not always handled in the right way. The loan is a real, concrete idea, but for now it remains on hold because it is very complicated for a number of reasons that are worth listing to explain the club’s thinking.

First of all, there’s the aspect related to the terms of his recent transfer to Napoli. Lucca, in fact, was acquired in the summer from the Friulian club on a paid loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. If the Azzurri decide to loan him out in January after reaching an agreement with another club, they would have to bring forward the purchase of the striker from the Bianconeri. Difficult, certainly, but not impossible. And then there’s another reason why a farewell in a few weeks might remain just a suggestion: Lucca’s desire to stay and continue to prove his worth at Napoli, even though he knows that, with Big Rom’s return, there would be three center-forwards and, for now, Conte only plans for one on the pitch. Napoli has discussed Lucca with Milan, but at the moment—as mentioned—the situation remains on standby, awaiting any developments. Reflections are ongoing these days, with all parties involved. And on the horizon, as luck would have it, the past returns.

In two days, Lucca will return to Udine, the city where he managed to emerge and finally make a name for himself—even for Napoli. He scored twelve goals there last year. Twenty-three in two seasons, after his Dutch experience at Ajax, where he was unable to live up to the expectations that come with being a “predestined” talent. In Udine, however, there was clear and steady growth that convinced the Azzurri to bet on him in the summer as an alternative to Lukaku. Romelu’s injury immediately changed the hierarchy. Lucca, 25 years old, first found himself as a starter, then as Hojlund’s alter ego—a striker with completely different characteristics. In total, he has scored two goals: one against Pisa in Serie A and the latest in the Coppa Italia against Cagliari, on a night when he received some undeserved whistles as he left the pitch. He responded the next day with a loving post: “Te voglio bene Napule, crir a me.” Lucca was supposed to learn from Lukaku and maybe he’ll have time to do so in the coming months. Meanwhile, the transfer window is about to reopen and no scenario can be ruled out.

Carlo Gioia

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.