Inter Milan Striker Not Yet Back To His Best Despite Recent Boost In Form

Inter striker Romelu Lukaku is yet to return to his best form even if he has finally started showing hints of it.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who caution against hasty declarations of a “return” of the 29-year-old Belgian international in the past few matches.

Lukaku has proven throughout the past month or so that reports of his demise may be greatly exaggerated.

After having spent much of the first part of the season struggling with injury and fitness issues that had curtailed his form into basically being a shadow of the player had had been during his first two seasons at the Giuseppe Meazza, Lukaku has weighed in in important moments.

The Belgian changed the entire complexion of the first leg of the Champions League round of sixteen first leg against Porto at the San Siro with his appearance off the bench, deservedly scoring the all-important second half goal that was enough to send the Nerazzurri to the quarterfinals.

Then, in the first leg of the quarterfinals against Benfica on Tuesday, Lukaku had a similar impact as a substitute, and he showed his trademark cold-bloodedness from the penalty spot to slot away a massive second goal at the Estadio da Luz.

That clinical edge from the spot had been a trademark for the Belgian throughout his first spell at the Nerazzurri, and has also been on show as he dispatched pressure penalties against the likes of Udinese, Spezia, and Juventus as well.

All of this has meant that, whereas the tenor of discussions of Lukaku’s form for much of the season had been focused on disappointment, if not outright doom and gloom, something has changed in the past few weeks.

There is something resembling optimism that the striker, who has certainly never showed any lack of desire and workrate in an Inter shirt, can finally put his lingering physical problems fully in the rearview mirror.

The Curva Nord has backed Lukaku to be the man to inspire the team to a memorable finish in Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia.

However, the Corriere warns, it may be time to put the brakes on some of this talk.

Yes, the 29-year-old has been playing at a high level based on the standards of this season.

However, these are not the standards that Lukaku had previously set, and the Corriere notes that there is still more growth that is needed if he is to truly be “back to his best.”

It has been reported that Inter are still not fully convinced to extend the Belgian’s loan from Chelsea at the end of the season.

For the Corriere, there is still every chance for Lukaku to grab the opportunities he’s given in the starting eleven, likely starting with tomorrow evening against Monza, and really make a statement – “I’m back.”