Report: AC Milan and Antonio Conte set for Romelu Lukaku tug of war

Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku are reunited in Napoli. (Imago/Gribaudi/ImagePhoto)

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Napoli boss Antonio Conte reportedly wants to work with Romelu Lukaku but faces competition from AC Milan (Imago/Gribaudi/ImagePhoto)

Report: AC Milan and Antonio Conte set for Romelu Lukaku tug of war

Seye Omidiora 20:32 - 05.06.2024

The former Inter Milan boss is rumoured to be keen on reuniting with the Belgian but the freshly-appointed Napoli head coach faces competition from the Rossoneri.

Antonio Conte has been appointed Napoli head coach and has seemingly set his sights on managing Romelu Lukaku again. 

Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku

Conte and the Belgian striker won the 2020-21 Serie A title at Inter Milan before the forward’s big-money sale to Chelsea in 2021. 

The fiery manager departed shortly after winning the Scudetto with the Nerazzurri and had a brief spell at Tottenham Hotspur before his sacking in March 2023. 

Conte was away from football for over a year but has returned at Napoli on a three-year contract, and he is keen to work with Lukaku again according to growing reports in Italy

Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku at Inter in 2021
Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan in 2021 (Imago/Gribaudi/ImagePhoto)

With Victor Osimhen’s future uncertain, Conte may lean towards the Chelsea striker to replace the Nigerian at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. 

However, Lukaku’s situation with Chelsea — the Blues are against another loan move for their want-away forward — and AC Milan’s interest mean a move to Napoli could be complicated. 

With Milan losing Olivier Giroud this summer, the Rossoneri are keen on adding quality and depth in attacking areas, leading to links to Lukaku and Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee

What comes next? 

Conte reuniting with Lukaku Napoli may come down to Osimhen departing Naples after four years or the Partenopei selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Otherwise, Napoli’s European absence and financial constraints may thwart any chance of a reunion between the Italian manager and his former striker.