Sabatini: ‘Lukaku can score 20 goals at Napoli with Conte’ | OneFootball

Former Inter and Roma director Walter Sabatini believes Romelu Lukaku ‘can score 20 goals’ per season under Antonio Conte at Napoli, while Victor Osimhen simply has to move on.

“Napoli made an extraordinary decision by convincing Conte, because he is a guarantee for everyone,” Sabatini told Radio CRC.

“His history speaks for him and he trains with such faith that it is almost a religious experience. He is the right man for Napoli to rebuild after last season’s disappointment. I am convinced he will do very well.”

The plan when Osimhen signed the new contract in December 2023 was always to sell him this summer, both for the €120m release clause and to get his massive wages off the club bill, but things have not gone quite as expected.

Lukaku waiting for Osimhen to leave Napoli

With seemingly nobody ready to meet the asking price, the Nigeria international is stuck waiting for Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain or Chelsea to step up and until he is sold, Napoli cannot dive in for Lukaku.

“Osimhen seems to be physiologically on the way out, as at some moments your emotions are not suited to the needs of the team. Osimhen, who is a great player, carries with him a price-tag and a salary that are impossible to maintain,” continued Sabatini.

“In any case, he will be suitably replaced. Lukaku is a guarantee with Conte, as trained by him, he is a player who can score 20 goals. I also wouldn’t say he was old, as 31 is when a striker reaches full maturity.

“He would certainly not be lacking in motivation at Napoli, with this club and city, while Conte knows how to give Romelu the right service.”

The Belgium international without doubt had the most prolific time of his career under Conte, scoring 64 goals and providing 17 assists in 95 games.

They won the Scudetto together at Inter and reached the Europa League Final.

Sabatini worked as a technical director overseeing all the Suning-owned clubs, including Inter, then had experiences at Sampdoria, the Montreal Impact, Bologna and Salernitana.