The striker scored on his Premier League debut against Leeds, then posted on social media after two months of silence. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The reactions of the Neapolitans, who felt implicated, were immediate.

“Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This time, Lorenzo Lucca uses a biblical semi-quotation to get something off his chest and put himself back at the center of controversy. The Nottingham Forest striker, on loan from Napoli, scored a consolation goal in the 3-1 loss to Leeds in his Premier League debut. Coming on in the 54th minute to replace Igor Jesus, with the home side leading 3-0 at Elland Road, he scored his first goal in England with his specialty, a header from Hutchinson’s assist. It was meaningless in terms of the result, but it feels like a personal victory for Lorenzo Lucca.

The former Udinese player returned to social media with a bang after more than two months of silence. The controversial post sparked the ire of Napoli fans, who felt targeted and did not miss the opportunity to comment venomously: “I don’t know if you know who you’re quoting, maybe it’s a bit exaggerated for a consolation goal,” “Keep scoring so they’ll redeem you,” “Convince Nottingham.” It is well known that the rapport between Lucca and the Neapolitan fans never clicked. This is suggested by the constant criticism of the player’s performances, which, in truth, are almost always insufficient. The Azzurri supporters also criticized Lorenzo for his attitude on the field, which they considered superficial and listless. Lucca scored two goals in the Azzurri jersey, the first as a pure center forward in the match against Pisa, which the player himself celebrated on social media with a post that was particularly appreciated by the fans at the time: “Sto sputann sang,” which conveyed the idea of his commitment. The second goal was in the Coppa Italia against Cagliari, which earned the team a place in the quarterfinals. But it was not enough to earn Maradona’s esteem, who booed his own player, Lorenzo Lucca, when he was substituted. After that unpleasant and ungenerous episode, Lorenzo attempted to mend fences with the fans, again via social media: “I love you Napule, crir a me.” This post was echoed by the team, judging by the public comment from captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo: “Stay calm! We believe in you!”

on the sidelines in Naples—  Unfortunately, however, Lucca has also slipped to the margins of Conte’s hierarchy, finding less and less space on the field, even as a substitute. And to think that in the summer he was strongly wanted by the Napoli coach himself. The deal that brought Lorenzo to the Azzurri reached a total of €35 million. He was supposed to become Romelu Lukaku’s alter ego, growing behind him and perhaps stealing his tricks of the trade. But things did not go according to plan. After Romelu’s injury, Napoli returned to the transfer market and snatched Rasmus Hojlund from their competitors for €50 million. Lucca started the first two league games, but was soon forced to give way to the Danish ‘potential star’, as Antonio Conte described him. Who knows, maybe Lucca will rediscover his “dominance” in the Premier League, which is what impressed Conte last season, convincing him to want him as an alternative to his center forward Lukaku. Who knows, anything is possible in football, even Lucca’s rediscovery from a distance, through his performances, perhaps avoiding social media provocations aimed at multiple recipients.