Romelu Lukaku rejects back-up role at Napoli
Agent Federico Pastorello warns that Romelu Lukaku will not accept a reserve role at Napoli, stating the striker will not stay where he is not wanted.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Voltmetro
Romelu Lukaku's future at Napoli is under scrutiny after his agent, Federico Pastorello, insisted that the Belgian striker will not accept a back-up role for the 2026-27 season. The forward endured a difficult 2025-26 campaign, playing just 64 minutes due to a severe pre-season muscle injury.
With Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna indicating that the club needs to discuss the player's future, Pastorello addressed whether Lukaku would be content as a reserve:
Obviously not. He’s an extraordinary player, and he’s proved it. He’s one of the most prolific strikers in the world. It’s hard for us to accept a situation like that. Federico Pastorello
The situation is complicated by the arrival of Lorenzo Lucca, which has created a potential bottleneck in Napoli's attack. Relations between the club and the player have been strained since March, when Lukaku controversially trained independently in Belgium without official permission.
While the transfer market remains stagnant, Napoli must finalize their policy regarding the 33-year-old soon. With Lukaku entering the final year of his contract, the club faces the pressure of deciding whether to integrate him into the starting XI or risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.