Lukaku: ‘I was a dead player before coming to Napoli’

Romelu Lukaku admits his first goal in nine months was an emotional moment, especially as it gave Napoli victory in Verona. ‘I was a dead player before coming here.’

The Belgium international had waited 281 days for his first Serie A goal, since May 23 2025 against Cagliari, as he has been out of action since August when a tendon detached in his thigh during a pre-season friendly.

He didn’t expect it to be quite so dramatic, a 96th-minute winner with the last kick of the game away to Hellas Verona...