Turkey erupts at Romelu Lukaku after Fenerbahçe's Villa debacle

The heavy 6-0 defeat of Fenerbahçe on Aston Villa's ground in the Champions League sparked a wave of criticism in Turkey, with the Belgian Romelu Lukaku being particularly targeted despite a late entry with twenty minutes left.

Late entry and limited impact

Romelu Lukaku only came onto the pitch with twenty minutes remaining, while the score was already 4-0 in favor of the Birmingham side. This brief involvement did not manage to turn the match around, but it was enough to reignite questions about his physical condition.

Harsh voices are rising

Sinan Engin, former professional footballer and coach, said on Asist Analiz: “Lukaku, are you not ashamed? Do you never look at yourself in the mirror? My advice: stop eating after 6 p.m., because you’re gaining weight. Hire a dietitian and a personal fitness coach.”

Semih Sentürk, former Fenerbahçe player, expressed his disappointment in these words: “I had high expectations of Lukaku, but this is very disappointing.”

Tümer Metin even suggested that “the Belgian golden generation has achieved nothing because of Lukaku,” recalling the Belgian’s 94 goals with the Red Devils.

Istanbul’s coach, Ismail Kartar, acknowledged the seriousness of the defeat, apologized to the supporters and recalled that he had recently expressed confidence in Lukaku, congratulating him for his goal against Turkey.

These criticisms come as Fenerbahçe sits in fourth place in the national league, a result considered insufficient for a club that aims for the title.