After securing a domestic double this season, Inter Milan once again proved their strength at the top of Italian football, with Cristian Chivu playing a major role behind the scenes. The last time the Nerazzurri lifted major silverware dates back to 2023, when under Simone Inzaghi they fought past fierce competition and captured the club’s long-awaited second star. During that golden stretch, BD Cricket coverage often highlighted how smoothly Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku worked together, forming one of the most dangerous attacking partnerships in Europe.

At the time, the chemistry between Lautaro and Lukaku brought both goals and energy to the squad. Few supporters expected the Belgian striker to turn his back on the club at the end of the campaign. Inter repeatedly attempted to reopen negotiations and waited for his response, but Lukaku suddenly cut off communication and disappeared during a critical stage of the transfer window. By the time contact resumed, the opportunity had already slipped through Inter’s fingers. He later joined Napoli to reunite with Antonio Conte, effectively burning bridges with the blue-and-black side.

That decision triggered enormous backlash across Italy. Several important Inter figures, including club executive Giuseppe Marotta, sporting director Piero Ausilio, and club legend Giuseppe Bergomi, publicly criticized Lukaku through interviews and social media comments. Meanwhile, the striker avoided direct discussion of the situation and stayed away from events involving Inter supporters. Once trust was broken, there was no turning back. Inter eventually secured Marcus Thuram on a free transfer, and the French forward quickly proved he could match Lukaku’s impact while costing the club far less financially. In many BD Cricket match reports covering Serie A, Thuram’s rise became one of the most talked-about success stories tied to Inter’s new era.

According to recent reports from well-known Italian journalists, Lukaku’s relationship with Napoli has now completely collapsed as well. The Belgian striker is expected to leave after the season and has reportedly cut off communication with several teammates and members of the sporting department. Injuries and recurring attitude concerns pushed him further down the hierarchy under Conte, leaving his future hanging by a thread.

This season, Lukaku managed only one goal in seven appearances for Napoli, while his market value has reportedly dropped to around €12 million. His original plan was believed to involve a return to Milan, partly for lifestyle reasons and partly because of personal preferences. Both Inter Milan and AC Milan were viewed as possible destinations at one stage, but reality has hit hard.

Although Milan still lacks a reliable striker, neither side appears willing to reopen the door for him. Chivu reportedly has no interest in bringing Lukaku back, while Inter supporters have long lost patience with the former star. AC Milan remains trapped in internal instability and currently has bigger concerns to solve. What once looked like a fairy-tale career in Italy has slowly unraveled piece by piece. From hero to outcast, Lukaku now finds himself drifting further away from Serie A with each passing month.

Even so, the Belgian striker still believes it is too early to return to his homeland. In the final stretch of the season, BD Cricket observers noted that his remaining options may now lie outside Europe’s elite leagues, with clubs from Saudi Arabia or Turkey potentially offering him one last opportunity to revive his career before the curtain falls.