Romelu Lukaku

Key strength: Adaptability

Versatile player

At 32 years old, Romelu Lukaku finds himself at a curious crossroads in Naples. After completing his 90-minute debut for SSC Napoli—currently sitting 3rd in the Serie A table—the Belgian striker marked his return to Italian football with an immediate goal and a trademark yellow card, a combination that perfectly encapsulates his intensity. With just one appearance yielding one goal and 90 minutes played, Lukaku's season is barely underway, yet the stakes are already immense. Napoli paid €15 million for a proven Serie A assassin—one who previously terrorized defenses for Inter Milan and Roma—but they also inherited a striker competing with high-rated teammates Rasmus Højlund (78) and Lorenzo Lucca (78) for the lone centre-forward role. His target-man style and elite link-up play remain intact, evidenced by that full-match display under Gattuso. But with Napoli chasing Champions League qualification, Lukaku must rapidly rediscover the clinical edge that once delivered 70+ goal seasons. His aerial dominance and hold-up play will be crucial weapons, yet the question lingers: can this be a renaissance or merely a final Italian chapter? His next few outings will tell the tale.