Manna: ‘Napoli fortunate we found a Lukaku buyer’ in Fenerbahce

Napoli director Giovanni Manna raised Fenerbahce eyebrows when admitting they were ‘fortunate we found someone ready to buy’ Romelu Lukaku.

The centre-forward had a tense relationship with the club that hit rock bottom in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, because he refused to return from Belgium to undergo treatment for his injury.

There were statements from both parties giving a very different view of the situation, but eventually managed to make peace.

Manna and Napoli problems with Lukaku

“The situation was complicated, because footballers are a little egotistical, as everyone is really,” Manna told the Colpi da Maestro podcast, via Tuttomercatoweb.

“He was thinking about the World Cup and being at his best for that, whereas we were challenging for a vital target like the Champions League. It happens in football.”

Going into the summer, it was evident that the 33-year-old’s time at Napoli was at an end, but finding someone willing to pay for the transfer and with contract terms that satisfied the player proved tricky.

They eventually shook hands with Turkish side Fenerbahce at a cost of €6m plus add-ons in mid-August.

“When we signed him, we had sealed a pretty complicated agreement with Chelsea for a three-year contract,” explained Manna.

“Things never go the way you expect, we had to deal with a big salary, also having made a large investment on Rasmus Hojlund as his replacement.

“The sale did not go the way we expected, but in a complicated transfer market, we were fortunate we found someone ready to buy him. In any case, I wish him all the best, he won the Scudetto with us and that means a lot.”

Lukaku has scored just one goal with one assist in 13 competitive appearances for Fenerbahce since the move from Napoli.