Napoli boss Antonio Conte (Picture: Getty)
Antonio Conte has revealed Romelu Lukaku ‘rejected bids’ from Premier League clubs last summer in favour of a move to Napoli.
Lukaku ended his disappointing spell at Chelsea at the end of August, returning to Serie A by completing a €30 million move to Napoli.
Despite struggling at Stamford Bridge – scoring 15 goals in 44 appearances – Lukaku has impressed in the early stages of this season, netting four goals in eight Serie A games to help Napoli open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Conte hailed Lukaku as an ‘excellent guy and a top player’ after Napoli’s 2-0 win over AC Milan on Tuesday night and revealed his striker rejected offers to stay in the Premier League last summer.
It appeared as though multiple English clubs were willing to take a chance on Lukaku despite his miserable spell at Chelsea.
The Belgian cost Chelsea almost £100m in 2021 – making him the club’s most expensive signing – but he scored just eight Premier League goals in his first season at Stamford Bridge before spending the next two campaigns on loan in Italy.
It was Lukaku’s second underwhelming spell at a Premier League club following his two-year stint at Manchester United, which produced 28 goals in 66 league games.
Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring for Napoli (Picture: Getty)
Before struggling at Old Trafford, Lukaku enjoyed four fruitful seasons at Goodison Park, netting 87 goals in 166 appearances for Everton.
‘Romelu Lukaku rejected bids from Premier League clubs to wait for us and join Napoli in August,’ Napoli boss Conte told DAZN.
‘He strongly wanted to work with us again and this is fantastic. He’s an excellent guy, top player.’
Conte hailed his current Napoli squad as ‘one of the best groups’ he has managed after they ground out a 2-0 win over AC Milan to pull further clear in the Serie A title race.
‘This is one of the best groups I have had in my career,’ the ex-Premier League manager added.
‘Everyone looks at the same goal, even between me and the club and the whole environment we have created in Castel Yolturno from the warehouseman to the gardener.
‘I breathe beautiful and clean air, passion and enthusiasm. When I happen to find this type of situation I live it with passion.’
Napoli return to Serie A action on Sunday with a home match against Atalanta, currently fifth in the table with 16 points after nine games.
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