The Belgian missed a penalty against Como and Napoli fans took to X and Instagram: “He just can’t do it. He’s spectacularly out of shape.”

If Romelu Lukaku misses a penalty, then something is really wrong. He is a specialist from 11 meters, he has only missed 8 out of 49 in his career, and he has scored 19 out of 19 with Inter. Romelu’s mistake from the penalty spot in the Coppa Italia against Como reflects his current condition. He shot hard, nervously, trying to find the bottom left corner of the goal, but the Belgian’s shot missed the target. From the penalty spot, he did not look like the usual Lukaku, who usually kicks with greater composure, stopping for a moment after his run-up, looking up and then shooting with confidence. That did not happen, and it is a warning sign. Maradona applauded him when he put his hands to his face in despair, but on social media, the fans did not forgive him. “If Lukaku is not at 110%, he is an amateur league player,” “Lukaku just can’t do it. He is spectacularly out of shape,” “Lukaku’s mistake is worse than Lobo’s!” “Lukaku should have been thanked and sent off at the end of the year! All of this year’s problems stem from the demands of an absurd coach and a sporting director who is not up to the task,” are just some of the comments from Napoli supporters, who took to X after the team’s elimination from the Coppa Italia, thanks to the blocking of comments on the Belgian striker’s Instagram profile.

There are also those who look to the future, advising Romelu to “accept some million-dollar offers from Saudi Arabia.” It’s not such a utopian prediction, given that the Belgian has already opened up to the possibility of moving to the Saudi League at the end of the season. Not only Napoli fans, but also those of Inter and Napoli’s direct competitors have indulged in some social media banter: “Reported for theft, the referee moved the goal on Lukaku’s penalty,” “Lukaku’s injury in August was a stroke of luck for Napoli because they bought Hojlund, who saved their season. Without him, they wouldn’t even have made it to the cups!” “So Lukaku missed the penalty because of Manganiello?”

on social media—  Beyond the missed penalty, Lukaku’s 15 minutes of play were unconvincing. He appeared slow, clumsy, and still out of shape. “Romelu is not right, there’s not much to say. He’s not Lukaku,” Conte admitted after the Coppa Italia match. And if the Napoli coach, who took him with him every time he could, says so, if Conte, who built part of his playing philosophy around the Belgian center forward, admits it, then we have to believe it. Big Rom returned to the team a couple of months ago and participated in the Super Cup trip to Riyadh, but he has not yet found a starting spot in the blue jersey. He has only set foot on the pitch for 56 minutes and attempted one shot on goal in the first quarter of an hour against Chelsea. Lukaku was supposed to be Conte’s real January signing. The temporary transfer of Lorenzo Lucca had raised hopes that Romelu had made a full recovery. He was out of the pre-season training camp when he injured his left thigh rectus femoris in the last friendly match against Olympiacos in Castel di Sangro. It was August 14, the transfer market was still open, and Napoli was ready to buy Hojlund, who, in the imagination of the fans and perhaps even Conte, could have formed one of the most formidable attacking pairs in Serie A with Romelu. “We need patience,” Conte repeats from time to time in the sporadic press conferences he holds. We really do need patience, but it’s worth waiting for Romelu Lukaku to return to 100%. He can and must make the difference in the final sprint of the championship, and Conte knows this well.