Striker Romelu Lukaku has come under fire for his performance for Roma in yesterday’s Serie A loss against Inter Milan.
Today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, give the Belgian a score of just 4.5/10 in the player ratings for the match at the Stadio Olimpico.
The spotlight may not have been on Lukaku yesterday to the extent that it had been in the first meeting between Roma and Inter this season.
That match, at the San Siro at the end of October, had seen Lukaku’s return emerge as the dominant narrative.
But there was still a real emotional undercurrent to the 30-year-old facing his old team.
Had Lukaku scored a goal for Roma – or even had a major effect on proceedings – the fact that he and the Nerazzurri have had such a complicated twelve months together would have certainly been brought up.
Romelu Lukaku “A Shadow Of Himself” In Roma Serie A Loss To Inter
In the first match between Roma and Inter this season, the sense was that the Nerazzurri knew what they’d be up against in the form of Lukaku.
When on form, the Belgian is virtually unplayable. Inter benefited from that on plenty of occasions in his first spell at the San Siro.
Lukaku’s combination of sheer physical strength with deft feet and an unerring eye for goal can always make him a dangerous focal point in attack.
And the 30-year-old has been just that for Roma on many occasions this season.
But not yesterday.
Lukaku had just one real chance to score. And it was a very good one. But a heavy touch from the Chelsea-owned striker allowed Inter keeper Yann Sommer to get to the ball first.
That missed chance meant that the scoreline stayed 2-3 to Inter, rather than becoming 3-3.
And, even more damningly, there was little else from Lukaku.
Inter do know what the 30-year-old can offer when he’s at his best. But yesterday evening, they managed to stop him without too much trouble.
