Marco Materazzi gives his views on the Scudetto race for 2024-25, but maintains Romelu Lukaku \u2018should regret having left Inter\u2019 and might not do so well with Antonio Conte at Napoli.<\/p>\n
The 2006 World Cup winner spoke to reporters at the presentation event for the new Serie A season, as the fixture list will be drawn up on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The former defender has never been shy in his criticism of Lukaku, nor in reminding everyone his own status as a die-hard Inter supporter, so could not wait to go in studs-up on the Chelsea striker.<\/p>\n
\u201cLukaku has gone round the houses, we\u2019ll see where he ends up this time, but he is the one who always makes the decision,\u201d said Materazzi.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact remains, so far the only place he won anything was at Inter. He was happy there, he should regret leaving and admit it was a mistake.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings have changed now, we have Marcus Thuram who is one of the best strikers in Italy along with Lautaro Martinez, we signed Mehdi Taremi and have a very strong squad. The regrets are certainly for Lukaku to have, not Inter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Belgium international left Inter not once, but twice, first for a sale to Chelsea and then when returning on loan only to seek a different Serie A experience.<\/p>\n
He ended up at Roma last term, but that loan expired and will not be renewed, so he is linked with a move to either Milan or Napoli.<\/p>\n
Considering how well Lukaku did under Conte at Inter, can he replicate that form?<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know about that, we saw the proof that it was more than those two giving Inter strength, like Alessandro Bastoni, Nicol\u00f2 Barella, Lautaro Martinez.<\/p>\n
\u201cLukaku knows that with Conte he trains hard, but Serie A has improved over the last 3-4 years. He will no longer be stepping onto the pitch fully aware he is in the best team, he will have to prove himself all over again to a group of fans who won\u2019t have much patience,\u201d warned Materazzi.<\/p>\n
\u201cConte is the kind of coach who can bring you an extra 10-12 points, especially when he\u2019s not distracted by cup competition.\u201d<\/p>\n