Napoli bring in 1.94m Lucca to challenge Lukaku in €35m deal
Napoli have secured the signing of Lorenzo Lucca on loan from Udinese, with an initial fee of €9 million and a mandatory €26 million payment due at the end of the season.
The 1.94-metre striker arrives to challenge Romelu Lukaku for a place in the attack of the reigning Serie A champions.
Lucca made headlines last season for contrasting reasons. On the pitch, he continued his upward trajectory, improving from nine goals in 39 appearances to 14 in 36, establishing himself as one of Serie A's promising forwards.
Off the pitch, however, controversy followed him. In February, he clashed with teammates over taking a penalty against Lecce.
Despite scoring, his poor attitude led the manager to substitute him immediately, and Lucca went eight matches and two and a half months without finding the net, later issuing a public apology.
That chapter is now behind him. This season, Lucca will compete directly with Lukaku, with Napoli committing €35 million in total for the striker. At 24 years old, his combination of height, recent development, and potential makes him a valuable asset for the Italian champions.