Crosetti blames Lukaku’s summer wanderlust for €300 m club drain

In a fiery editorial for La Repubblica, Maurizio Crosetti accuses Romelu Lukaku of never staying put, arguing the Belgian striker’s summer wanderlust has already cost clubs roughly €300 million, while SSC Napoli bears a €20 million hit from his salary and amortisation.

Crosetti describes Lukaku’s "restless soul" as drawn to "summer moons" and warns that a "falling star" can tempt his desires, adding that the striker’s model is always the same: to leave.

The piece notes that Lukaku failed to appear at SSC Napoli’s sports centre in Castel di Sangro, declaring he dreams of a move to America, and that Napoli are negotiating his sale to Atlanta to ease his wage burden.

Napoli’s board estimates the financial relief at €20 million, covering his gross salary and the residual amortisation of his contract, a sum that forms a sizable portion of the club’s wage budget.

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Months earlier, Lukaku ended his collaboration with coach Antonio Conte, a mutual "shared pause" they defined before the season began.

Ten years ago at Manchester United, Lukaku became the most expensive Belgian ever, netting 27 goals under José Mourinho before a clash with Ole Gunnar Solskjær, after which he forced a transfer to Inter to reunite with Conte.

In the summer of 2021, Lukaku moved to Chelsea as the club’s record signing, a deal that also became Inter’s most profitable sale; after a brief spell in London he returned to Italy, first with Inter and then with Roma, where he again worked with Mourinho and scored 21 goals.

Recent reports suggest San Lorenzo are courting the 33‑year‑old, who has expressed a desire for a new shirt without waiting another season, describing himself as a "falling star".