NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Naples was buzzing with anticipation Wednesday of a reunion between Romelu Lukaku and Antonio Conte at the same club.
Lukaku arrived in the Italian city on Wednesday to finalise his move from Premier League side Chelsea to Napoli. More than a hundred fans greeted the Belgian striker on his arrival at the club’s clinic to complete his medical.
The fans chanted his name and Lukaku smiled as he was escorted through the crowd. One fan fell to the ground and the player went over to help him, delighting the fan.
According to Italian media reports, Lukaku will sign a three-year contract with Napoli. The Serie A club will pay 30 million euros ($33 million) to Chelsea, plus 30% of any future transfer fee.
Lukaku’s two best seasons came under Conte at Inter Milan.
Lukaku, 31, had been training separately from Chelsea’s first team in recent weeks. The English club had been looking for a suitor for the striker who cost $135 million in 2021 — the seventh most expensive player in history — but who disappointed during his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
He played on loan with Inter during the 2022-23 season and also last season with Roma.
Chelsea bought Lukaku from Inter after the striker was instrumental in helping the Nerazzurri win the Italian league and become the team’s top scorer with 24 goals.
Inter had Conte as their coach and he left at the same time as Lukaku. Conte returned to Italy a couple of months ago and took over a Napoli side that collapsed last season, having had three coaches in charge.
Napoli lost 3-0 in Conte’s debut but won by the same scoreline last weekend. It was their first Serie A victory since early April.
The southern club was eliminated from Europe after finishing tenth, a year after winning its first scudetto since the glorious era of Diego Maradona.
