CONTE'S KEY WEAPON: ROMELU LUKAKU'S COMEBACK FOR NAPOLI'S FIRST TROPHY HUNT
Romelu Lukaku is back on the squad for Napoli's Supercoppa match against AC Milan after a long injury layoff. Conte gets a major boost.
Romelu Lukaku's bad dream is ending. The Napoli striker is on the team for the Supercoppa Italiana game against AC Milan. After not playing at all in 2025-26, the Belgian is going to Saudi Arabia. This is great news for Antonio Conte, who wants to win his first trophy of the season.
Lukaku is going to Napoli
After working hard to get better from a bad thigh injury in the pre-season, the 32-year-old forward left Naples Capodichino airport on Tuesday afternoon for Riyadh. He's now on the team list after 124 days of recovery, which club people say was one of the hardest times of his career.
A bad setback in August
Lukaku's season got messed up in August when he got hurt in a friendly game against Olympiacos. People thought it was a small hit, but it turned out to be a high-grade tear in his rectus femoris that needed surgery. This kept him out of the first half of the Serie A season.
Conte really wanted to work with Lukaku again, so this was a big loss. Napoli had to play the first few months without their big summer signing. They used Lorenzo Lucca and Rasmus Hojlund, who came in late, to lead the attack. The team has done okay, staying close to Serie A leaders Inter, but they've missed Lukaku's strength, especially in the Champions League.
Can Lukaku get back on track in Riyadh?
His return is happening at a perfect time. Napoli is playing AC Milan in the Supercoppa semi-final in Riyadh on Thursday, December 18. It's a tough game against a rival, and Lukaku can use it to show he's back.
He's been practising with the team since early December, even telling reporters, "See you soon," at a practice last week. But Conte didn't want to rush him back. He didn't play in the Champions League game against Benfica, so he could be ready for this tournament.
Reports say that Lukaku is going and can play, but he'll probably start on the bench. The doctors say he's okay to play, but he still needs to get his match fitness back. Conte might use him as a substitute, hoping he can make the Milan defenders nervous since they've had trouble with him before.
Conte's key player
Lukaku played 36 games and scored 14 goals when Napoli won the Serie A title last season. They haven't been steady lately, losing two games in a row before going to Saudi Arabia. This tournament is a chance to start over and get Lukaku into the team.
With the game against Milan coming up and a possible final against Inter or Bologna, Napoli fans hope Lukaku can make up for lost time. If he can play as he did before under Conte, people will forget about the last four months. After that, Napoli will play Cremonese in Serie A.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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