Will ‘The Curse Of Lu-La’ Continue In Napoli Vs Inter Milan Serie A Showdown? | OneFootball

The “curse of Lu-La” could continue to affect Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez when Napoli take on Inter Milan this evening.

This is the suggestion in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews. They note that neither of the former strike partners have ever scored in a match against one another.

The “Lu-La” strike partnership of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez was the heart of Inter’s attack for years.

The two strikers formed a very complementary duo leading the Nerazzurri’s line.

Then, in the 2022-23 season, the dynamic changed quite a bit. Lukaku returned to Inter on loan. But he was not able to reproduce his previous form, while Martinez had become Inter’s talisman.

Will “Thu-La Curse” Continue In Napoli Vs Inter Milan Clash?

Then in the summer of 2023, Romelu Lukaku dramatically fell out with Inter.

Not only that, but the Belgian’s relationship with Martinez on a personal level also collapsed.

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 09: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli stands disappointed during the Serie A match between Napoli and Udinese at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 09, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Martinez admitted that he had tried to call Lukaku during the chaotic summer soap opera that saw Inter pull the plug on a move to sign the Belgian.

The pair had been friends off the pitch as well as being a tandem on it. But after that summer, there is an icy rift between Lukaku and Martinez.

The two strikers have not shaken hands in any of the meetings between Inter and either Roma or Napoli with Lukaku starting. The snub has made the situation extremely clear.

And there has always been a sense of pressure on Lukaku when he’s faced his former club. To date, he has not been able to rise above it, never scoring against Inter for Roma or Napoli.

However, just as significantly, Martinez has also never scored in matches against the Gialorossi or the Partenopei when his former strike partner has been starting.

This will be each of the two former friends’ fourth opportunity to get one over on the other. So far, it has been a “cursed” endeavour – but both will be hoping that that trend does not continue.