Romelu Lukaku has chosen not to take Victor Osimhen's iconic No. 9 shirt after joining Napoli at the end of the summer transfer window, despite the club's indication that he was free to do so. Instead, Lukaku opted for the No. 11 jersey as a sign of respect for Osimhen.
Osimhen was recently removed from Napoli’s Serie A squad after a potential transfer fell through dramatically on deadline day. Initially, a brief update on the Serie A website listed Lukaku as Napoli’s new No. 9, but when he made his debut against Parma, he wore the No. 11.
Reports from Italian outlets Il Mattino and Tuttonapoli suggest that Lukaku declined the No. 9 shirt to honor Osimhen, emphasizing that, even though he is not currently part of the squad, the jersey still holds significance for the Nigerian international. This gesture reflects Lukaku's respect for his fellow player and highlights the importance of camaraderie in football.