August 10, (THEWILL) – A friendly match between Juventus and their youth squad Juventus Next Gen was interrupted on Wednesday, by dozens of fans invading the pitch to protest the club’s potential move for Chelsea striker, Romelu Lukaku.
The annual Villar Perosa match was halted in the opening minutes as supporters voiced their displeasure with bringing in the Belgian striker. Lukaku had been in talks over a possible return to Inter Milan but negotiations broke down after it emerged he was also speaking with Juventus about a transfer. This angered Inter fans and officials, who felt betrayed after initially welcoming Lukaku last season on loan from Chelsea.
The protests at Juventus’ training ground highlight how a move for Lukaku has not been well-received. Fans were heard chanting “No, we don’t want Lukaku” and held up banners signalling their opposition. While pitch invasions are common at this friendly event, fans chose this opportunity to make their anger known.
Juventus had been in discussions with Chelsea over a swap deal involving Lukaku and their striker, Dusan Vlahovic. However, the clubs were unable to agree on valuations. Chelsea are still open to selling Lukaku but his options are now limited after Inter closed the door on bringing him back.
The dramatic protests show just how controversial a potential Lukaku move has become. While Juventus may still pursue the transfer, they will have to work to convince their own supporters that bringing in the Belgian is the right move after his actions this summer.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
