Romelu Lukaku sends clear message to Fenerbahçe after supersub

In the warm atmosphere of the Turkish stadium, Romelu Lukaku came onto the pitch as a substitute and immediately found the way to the goal, giving the Red Devils a third goal. It was his first strike since July 7, when Belgium played in the round of 16 against the United States.

Supersub role confirms his impact

Lukaku repeated the role he played during the 2026 World Cup: that of supersub. After his brief cameo against Turkey, he immediately found the ball in the net, completing the 3‑0. “Something happens to me when I put on this shirt,” he laughed afterwards.

Fenerbahçe situation remains problematic

The striker spoke candidly about his difficult spell at Fenerbahçe, where since his arrival he has only been allowed to start a full match once. During his first press conference, the chairman had already indicated that he would need time to become fully match‑fit.

“I am convinced that my situation with the national team would look different if I could simply play at one hundred percent at Fenerbahçe. Then I would make it harder for the national coach,” Lukaku explained. He added that he is now returning to Istanbul to fight for his place.

Frustration about past and future

Because he does not feel fully aligned with the club, Lukaku emphasized: “I feel that they look too much at the past. In the past four seasons I have only changed clubs at the very end of the transfer window and then started playing immediately. This is the first time that this has not happened.”

He even suggested a possible change to his status at Fenerbahçe, should he continue to perform. “Maybe I will now return with a different status,” he said.

Reaction of the national staff

Mark Van Bommel, head coach of the Red Devils, will soon have to completely overhaul the midfield against France. Lukaku noted that his remarks at the press conference elicited strange looks, but he hopes to soon be able to talk with the club about a better approach.