Former Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri said losing Romelu Lukaku to the Premier League ‘is not nice’ for Serie A. ‘The Belgian was fundamental for Inter’s game’.
The Belgium international scored 64 goals in 95 competitive games with the Nerazzurri and helped Antonio Conte’s men win their first Scudetto in 11 years.
Achraf Hakimi left San Siro early in the transfer window this summer, after Conte decided to step down from his position as head coach.
After Simone Inzaghi was brought in to replace the striker, Lukaku has moved back for a second stint at Chelsea for €115m and Ranieri believes the Scudetto team is already ‘disassembled’ at the Giuseppe Meazza.
“In two months, the Nerazzurri disassembled the Scudetto team,” Ranieri told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Lukaku was fundamental for Inter’s game.
“For Inzaghi, it’s an uphill start, but Simone is very good. I expect a great reaction. It’s certainly not nice for our League to lose the Belgian striker.”
Inter are close to announcing the arrival of former Roma captain Edin Dzeko as Lukaku’s replacement and will start the new season against Genoa on August 21.