Romelu Lukaku joins Napoli for £30m, Antonio Conte hails ‘unique’ star

Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku has completed a permanent move from Chelsea to Napoli. The deal £30m deal was confirmed on Thursday.

Chelsea signed Lukaku for a club-record £97.5m three years ago, however things failed to work out for the former Manchester United forward and he was sent out on loan twice. Lukaku is now set for a new adventure under Antonio Conte.

Lukaku was earning £325,000-a-week and Chelsea were eager to get him off their wage bill.

Former Chelsea manager, Conte is delighted to bring the 31-year-old to Napoli.

‘What can I say about Romelu,’ Napoli boss Conte said in a press conference after the club announced his arrival on social media.

‘He is a unique centre-forward. Usually the big strikers are a bit slow, or you have to use them as a target in the penalty area, or they don’t have the best legs to exploit the space on the pitch.

‘I have always described Lukaku as an American Football Player, he’s 1.90m tall, but very fast.

‘He is a powerful player, we need someone who can hold it up, bring other players in, find combinations, while also being a player who can attack spaces and cause damage.

‘That’s why I consider him to be unique. Having already said that he’s a good guy, I would put my hand on an open flame for him, and he knows the responsibility that has for me, for Napoli and for the fans.’

Lukaku’s exit may open the door for Chelsea to sign Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen, however, the Nigerian forward is also linked with a move to Al-Ahli.