Lukaku struggles to break into Fenerbahçe, former Red Devils wonder
Romelu Lukaku's situation at Fenerbahçe is beginning to raise questions, the top scorer in the history of the Red Devils seeing his playing time severely limited, according to former Anderlecht players Marc Degryse and Frank Boeckx, and their analyses highlight the concerns of the Belgian club.
Reservations on playing time
Marc Degryse expresses reservations about the striker's current situation. « For now, no », he replies when asked whether Fenerbahçe is the right club for Romelu Lukaku. He adds that the Belgian simply does not get enough minutes and that, in his view, « the times we have seen him, he has also failed to convince us ».
Frank Boeckx highlights the financial aspect of the situation. He reminds that Lukaku's salary demands must not be negligible for Fenerbahçe and that, if he plays very little, the club will not trigger the option for an additional contract, which would then become a costly affair. Boeckx's view underscores that the Red Devils' top scorer is in a precarious position.
Lukaku signed a one‑year contract with Fenerbahçe, with an option for an additional year. According to Degryse, nothing currently guarantees that this option will be exercised. This contractual situation fuels doubts about his future at the Turkish club.
International stakes and Van Bommel's role
Marc Degryse is counting on Mark van Bommel to help Romelu Lukaku regain his rhythm. « He may have to rely on Van Bommel. There are still two matches left before the four Nations League fixtures. We’ll have to see how fit he is, but I think those matches with the Red Devils could do him good », he explains. The upcoming international break could therefore play a decisive role for the Belgian.
Vedat Muriqi currently appears to have the staff’s favor at the forefront of Fenerbahçe’s attack. Boeckx notes that « If he continues to play and Lukaku only gets a quarter of an hour each time, they will not trigger the option and will part ways with him ». This remark reinforces the idea that Lukaku’s playing time remains limited.
The situation brings Anderlecht back into the spotlight. Degryse believes that some supporters already hope to see Romelu Lukaku leave Fenerbahçe after just one season, while Boeckx goes further by stating that « everyone still hopes he won’t wait for an additional year and will simply return to Anderlecht ». The Belgian club thus remains involved in the debate.