Domenico Tedesco is an admirer of Antonio Conte, and Lorenzo Bettoni argues it’s no coincidence Romelu Lukaku looked reborn under the guidance of the Italian tactician in his debut as Belgium’s coach.
The Nerazzurri striker scored a hat-trick in Belgium’s 3-0 win over Sweden on Friday, in Tedesco’s first game in charge of the Red Devils.
The 37-year-old is more than an admirer of Conte, who he called his ‘role model’ in a recent interview released with Italian media.
“If I have to name one [role model], I’d say Antonio Conte because he’s done very well and I think he is doing the same at Tottenham,” said Tedesco.
It is no coincidence Lukaku looked reborn in his first-ever appearance under the Italian tactician.
The Belgian forward probably had his most successful spell in his career at Inter with Conte in the dugout, scoring 64 goals in 95 appearances and winning the Serie A title in 2020-21, the first one for the Nerazzurri in over a decade.
Tedesco seems to have put the 29-year-old in the best condition to do what he knows best: score goals. The Belgian scored a header and two tap-in goals against Sweden. Perhaps, he was not always involved in the build-up but was always there when needed.
Lukaku didn’t waste his energies running around the pitch and only had 21 touches, but he scored three goals with three shots on target in Sweden.
The Chelsea loanee has only bagged five goals in 19 appearances with Inter this season and will return to Stamford Bridge at the end of the current campaign.
It remains to be seen if the Beppe Marotta will sit down with the Blues again, trying to bring back Big Rom to the Stadio Meazza in 2023-24. Indeed, the Nerazzurri are not satisfied with what Lukaku has shown this season and will need more performances like the one he put in for Belgium to offer him another chance.
Conte has also been linked with a return to the Stadio Meazza next summer, even if Simone Inzaghi has another year left in his contract with the Nerazzurri, and Lukaku’s chances to play for Inter again next season will increase if the Tottenham tactician signs for Inter again.
@lorebetto