Former Napoli striker Emanuele Calaio has weighed in on Antonio Conte’s decision to favor Romelu Lukaku over Victor Osimhen, attributing the choice to the Belgian’s leadership qualities.
Conte, who took the helm of the former Serie A champions this summer, made the controversial decision to exclude Osimhen from his first-team plans shortly after his arrival.
As a result, Osimhen eventually secured a season-long loan to Galatasaray, despite significant interest from Chelsea and clubs in Saudi Arabia.
“Osimhen is stronger than Lukaku, but Conte evidently chose the Belgian because he is a locker room man, a leader,” Calaio stated, as reported by Napoli Magazine.
He further emphasized Lukaku’s impact during his time at Monza, noting, “Have you seen what he did with Monza? It was clear from the TV; he always encouraged his teammates, he guided them.”
