Romelu Lukaku has mentioned Napoli manager Antonio Conte among the four head coaches that changed his life as a football player, Afrosport reports.
Both men crossed paths, first at Inter Milan, and now at Napoli, winning the Serie A on the two occasions, including last season’s Scudetto.
Conte’s admiration for Lukaku dates back to the summer of 2017 when the Italian tactician wanted the big Belgian as a replacement for Diego Costa at Chelsea. Lukaku, who at that time was at Everton, went on to join Manchester United.
“We have the same mentality: Improvement only comes with hard work,” Lukaku told Gazzetta dello Sport about his relationship with Conte.
“He has a footballing idea that suits my characteristics, and when I’m at home, I try to learn the concepts of the game that he wants. Our relationship has always worked because he knows how to give me those motivations to try and be the strongest every day.”
Lukaku went on to mention the other coaches that had impact in his life like Conte.
“Yes, just like Roberto Martinez was in Belgium, Koeman at Everton and Ariel Jacobs at Anderlecht,” he added.
Lukaku also asserted he has developed as a player between his spells with Inter Milan and Napoli.
“I’m more experienced, for sure. And I do a lot of tactical work at home. I watch the opposition teams, I have more control of the things that happen on the pitch and I spot things before they happen. Before, I was more reactive,” he stated.
“People say that the body changes, but even now, in every game, there are two or three plays where I can make a difference starting further back. But I’m more selfless these days. The assists say so. When I first came to Italy, I looked out for myself more so.”
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Lukaku will be aiming to win a third Scudetto when Napoli begin the 2025-26 season away at Sassuolo on August 23.
