ransom. Loan renewal from Chelsea, what depends on it – Corriere.it

MILAN WhenRomelu Lukaku
is called to the bench can not stop smiling. He has just scored the 2-0 goal with which Inter beat Reggina in the Inzaghi home derby. He had to play once, remained on the field for 87 minutes. Like an apparition, number 90 on his shoulders and a long beard, Big Rom swoops into Inter who are hungry for the championship.

The ride, and it’s normal, not overwhelming like in the good old days. The physicist is running in, but the first indications are positive. The left wing kick with which he beats the goalkeeper from Reggio Ravaglia comes at the end of an encouraging performance. Romelu hits the post with a header, attacks the depth consistently and communicates well with Dzeko, the author of the first goal (with a header): a heavy pair that Inzaghi is thinking of proposing for the Naples exam, on 4 January , considering that Lautaro will only see each other again at the end of December. They will also play together next Thursday, in the friendly against Sassuolo. Then we’ll see.

Lukaku has to cancel a nightmare first part of the season, stressed by problems in her right thigh. Only four matches in the league: a goal in the first against Lecce, her last appearance on October 29 against Sampdoria. You missed 11 out of 15 games in Serie A, 5 out of 6 in the Champions League (only 7 minutes played, scoring, with Plzen). Numbers far from Inter’s expectations. You did no better at the World Cup, with that punch on the bench after the series of missed goals against Croatia in the match that condemned Belgium to elimination in the group stage.

Lukaku cried in anger, who now has a mad desire for redemption. he returned to Appiano on 12 December, and has been training ever since to be in the best possible shape when the championship resumes. Dzeko replaced him well, but Inzaghi is aware that to frighten leaders Napoli and dream of a (possible) comeback, Inter needs its main centre-forward. When Romelu is on the pitch, the team changes, they lean on him, they turn in a different way. This is net of goals. In the year of the Scudetto won with Conte on the bench, the Belgian scored 13 goals in Serie A only from January to May. Very many.

Inzaghi is waiting for that Lukaku, and needs to see him again by next summer, given that the loan granted by Chelsea expires on 30 June. To bring him back to Milan, the Nerazzurri paid 8.5 million to the English and 11 gross to the attacker on salary only. An expense that is difficult to repeat. Inter are willing to renew the loan, but at lower prices and perhaps including a buy-out option. And, above all, keeping untied the possible negotiation for the sale of Dumfries, the Dutch winger valued at 60 million that Chelsea likes. A final decision should come in the spring, not before. Certainly a lot will pass from Lukaku’s performance and physical fitness. Reggio Calabria needed a signal, arrived. Now it’s back to running.