Romelu Lukaku says he can improve further and cites Karim Benzema as the example he wants to follow.
Lukaku played a key role as Napoli won the Scudetto last season, scoring 14 goals, to help Antonio Conte’s side clinch top spot ahead of Inter Milan.
The well-travelled Belgian is now in the latter years of a hugely successful career that has included spells at Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter and Roma before landing in Naples 12 months ago.
He continues to be one of Europe’s leading strikers, 16 years after making his debut as a 16-year-old for Anderlecht.
Lukaku puts his longevity, and those of other players of his generation, due to advances in medical science and says former Real Madrid striker Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2022, is his inspiration.
In a wide-ranging interview with Gazzetta, the 32-year-old said: “Of course, we have the tools to do more and more. I have a gym at home.
“[Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Robert] Lewandowski, Ibra [Zlatan Ibrahimovic] are super, but my example is Benzema, who when past 32 won the Ballon d’Or. You have to look forward with the right mentality. LeBron James says that too.”
I’m more altruistic now, says Lukaku
Lukaku believes he is a better player now – and contributes more to the team – than the one that first played in Serie A for Inter in 2019.
“I’m more experienced, for sure,” he added. “And I do a lot of tactical work at home: I look at the opposing teams, I have more control of the things that happen and I see the action before it arrives. Before I was more reactive, more dynamic.
“People can say that the physique has changed, but even now, in every race, there are two or three actions in which I can make the difference starting from way back. But I’m more altruistic, the assists say so. When I arrived in Italy I looked more at myself.”
That’s not to say he was entirely satisfied with his contribution last season.
“I wanted to do better, when you are ambitious you always want to do better,” he said. “I could have done more: 14 goals and 10 assists is a decent return but it’s not the best, I always try to raise the bar, you can’t get to perfection but you need to try to get closer. But I’m happy, because the team won.”
Lukaku plays down talk he persuaded De Bruyne to join Napoli
Lukaku will have international colleague Kevin De Bruyne playing behind him over the coming months following his exit from Manchester City after a trophy-laden 10-year spell at the Etihad.
The pair go way back having come through the various Belgium youth ranks together, and also played alongside each other at Chelsea.
Despite their long-standing friendship, Lukaku insists he was not overly involved in De Bruyne’s decision to snub interest from MLS and the Saudi Pro League to join Napoli.
“Just two calls, very simple,” he said. “I explained to him what it means to play here, that we are a team that wants to improve and confirm itself for next year. It will be a great challenge but he likes challenges.”
I’m the man I wanted to be – Lukaku
A third Scudetto – he won his first with Inter – is the target next season but, whatever the outcome, Lukaku is happy with what he has achieved in his career having come from an impoverished background.
He said: ”I’m the man I wanted to be. I gave the opportunity to my whole family to go to school and university. In the best moments of my career they were always there at the stadium: my mother, my children, my brother. Look, on my phone there’s my mom raising the Scudetto trophy.
“Even in suffering as an adult, she has always told me ‘remember where we come from’. Growing up I often think about what I’ve been through and something snaps in me, it gives me energy.
“I don’t want my children to have to relive what I’ve lived. Now they are fine, they already speak three languages at three and seven years old. And I’m happy because even in football I have everything: I’m in the right team, with the right coach, in the right club. You can see that Napoli also makes great strides forward every year.”
Napoli open the defence of their Serie A crown at Sassuolo on August 23.
