Internazionale’s Romelu Lukaku fought until the final whistle, but ended up empty-handed. The Italian newspapers see that Manchester City was simply a size too big. But also emphasise how it could have been different if Romelu Lukaku had just headed in just before time.
Italy does not spare Lukaku: “He betrayed Inter”
“Inter held on for 69 minutes, but a goal from Rodri forced the club to its knees. It was a success, despite the bitter end. The long European campaign has provided Inter with an unexpected treasure, significantly improving its balance sheet and relieving the club financially,” said La Gazzetta dello Sport.
They added, “Trainer Simone Inzaghi brought Lukaku for Edin Dzeko, with the aim of hurting City in the final phase. Just before time, the Belgian striker missed the chance of his life, just like at the World Cup in Qatar, in which he also missed a crucial opportunity with Belgium. Just like at the World Cup. He was brought in to turn the tide, but the missed header was prominent. Just as he was on a strong run with seven goals in his last eight games, he betrayed the Nerazzurri. It was not a miracle save from Ederson, but it was poorly finished. You saw Lukaku’s desperation, he put his hands in front of his face.”
“Così no” (loosely translated: just not), writes Corriere dello Sport. “Inter makes City tremble: Dimarco hits the crossbar, the mistakes of Lautaro Martínez and Romelu Lukaku, the tears. Italy loses a European final for the third time in a row,” the newspaper refers to the finals of Inter, AS Roma and Fiorentina.
“In Istanbul there was no trace of the team that humiliated Real Madrid in the semi-finals and won the Premier League three times in a row, but it was enough for the English,” Tuttosport writes. “The Inter coach will think back to Dimarco’s ball on the crossbar and Lukaku’s missed opportunity. Football can be cruel at times, more than any other sport.”
La Repubblica also mentions that Manchester City has made a mega investment to win the Champions League
They wrote, “Manchester City win the Champions League for the first time in history, Guardiola takes the treble, bad luck for the Nerazzurri, Dimarco’s cross and Lukaku’s sensational error. Between Inter’s treble in 2010 and City’s treble thirteen years later, there is a difference of two billion euros from Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour’s goal has finally been achieved, thanks in part to dribbling along the rules of Financial Fair Play. The economic gap between the Premier League and the rest of Europe is still a big pitfall.”
