Overview
- Federico Pastorello told Sky Sport Italia on Saturday that Romelu Lukaku will not accept a back-up role at Napoli, making the player’s immediate future uncertain.
- Lukaku is entering the final year of his contract after managing only 64 minutes of club football in 2025–26 due to a severe pre-season muscle injury.
- Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has said the club will hold direct talks with Lukaku once the striker returns from holiday to decide next steps.
- The imminent return of Lorenzo Lucca increases competition up front and Pastorello says keeping two high-profile strikers would create added wage and squad-selection problems.
- Pastorello warned the striker market is largely stalled, which limits transfer options and forces Napoli to choose between renegotiating terms, keeping both forwards, or risking Lukaku leaving on a free next summer.