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Inter's Romelu Lukaku (center) scored after just under two minutes: "King Lukaku is back"
Photo: Ciro De Luca / REUTERS
Romelu Lukaku has made the perfect return to Italy.
The 29-year-old needed less than 90 seconds for his first goal, but Inter Milan only got the win at the start of Italy's Serie A with a late goal.
Denzel Dumfries made it 2-1 (1-0) at US Lecce in added time on Saturday night.
“We believed in victory with all our might.
This success is the best start to the new championship for us,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.
Gosens replaced early at Inter
Belgium international Lukaku, back in the Inter jersey after a sobering year at Chelsea, scored the opener with a header shortly after the start of the game (2nd) - and received a lot of praise from the Italian media.
“Inter Milan will fight to the last breath.
King Lukaku is back," commented the Gazzetta dello Sport.
"In 82 seconds, Lukaku erases a year of bitterness and reconciles with the Inter fans who had a hard time coping with his move to Chelsea," said Tuttosport.
Assan Ceesay also hardly needed any warm-up time after the break and equalized (48').
Dumfries struck when it looked like a draw (90+5).
National player Robin Gosens was in the starting lineup for Milan and was substituted in the second half (57th).
AC Milan also had some difficulties.
Thanks to a brace from ex-Frankfurter Ante Rebic, the champions won 4-2 (2-2) against Udinese Calcio.
"We're not perfect, but we have to be," said coach Stefano Pioli.
Rebic (15th/62nd), Theo Hernandez (11th, penalty kick) and Brahim Diaz (46th) scored for Milan.
Rodrigo Becao (2nd) and Adam Masina (45th + 3) were successful for Udine.
Promoted Monza Calcio, owned by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, meanwhile botched its start and lost 1: 2 (0: 1) against FC Torino.
“Monza clearly needs to improve a lot.
After that defeat I told the boys that you have to believe in winning.
Whoever believes in it fights, whoever believes in it, overcomes every obstacle," said the 85-year-old Berlusconi: "We hope that we don't make a fool of ourselves and stay up in the league.
We signed 13 new player deals and I'm the one paying."
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