Striker Romelu Lukaku looked a damp squib relative to expectations in yesterday evening’s Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Roma.
This is the verdict in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
There was never any doubt regarding what the dominant subplot for yesterday’s match was going to be.
Matches between Inter and Roma are always big enough occasions that they don’t necessarily need much more at stake.
But the return of Lukaku to the San Siro for the first time after his summer soap opera was always going to be a big story.
The Belgian seemingly burned his bridges with Inter after a controversial transfer saga. And therefore that was evident in the treatment that Lukaku got from his old teammates.
The Corriere note that defender Francesco Acerbi did not reciprocate an attempt at a high five from Lukaku.
And the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco, and Alessandro Bastoni all pointedly avoided the 30-year-old former Manchester United, Chelsea, and Everton striker.
Romelu Lukaku Falls Flat In Inter Vs Roma Clash
So the stage was certainly set for Lukaku to be the big story.
Had the Belgian gotten on the scoresheet and the Giallorossi taken a result back to the Italian capital, the match would’ve been characterized as Lukaku coming back to haunt Inter.
Even some kind of controversy or fiery moment would’ve received plenty of attention.
But there was none of that.
As Inter’s squad seemingly just coldly ignored Lukaku, the Belgian had next to no impact on the match.
The Belgian was leading the line for Roma. And there was no question that he was the Giallorossi’s danger man.
But it was not the kind of performance that Lukaku so often put in at that stadium in an Inter shirt.
There’s no question that the 30-year-old can create a lot of danger. And that’s why there was anticipation for a continuation of his summer soap opera.
But instead, Lukaku’s participation was barely worthy of mention.
