COMMENT: It's a disaster. An absolute disaster. Romelu Lukaku and season 2023/24. He's fully fit. He's fully available. Yet you could argue it's already a write-off...

How can this happen? How could those around him let this happen? Indeed, how could Rom allow himself to get in such a state? We'll talk about the ins-and-outs of this fiasco soon enough. But just considering his current position, how does the big man expect to make any meaningful contribution this term?

He knows his body-type. He knows it's demands. And Rom knows what missing an entire preseason means for him and this campaign. How does he catch up? Where does he catch up? It'd be bad enough if we were talking about a Kai Havertz or Timo Werner. But Lukaku? Standing at 1.91m and built like a brick what's-it's-name? What chance has he given himself of making any meaningful impact this season?

And we're not talking about your average centre-forward here. This column has taken our shots at Rom. But there's no denying he lives in the same bracket as the best of his type anywhere in the world. On his day he can be unplayable. Unstoppable. A player, fit and in form, you wouldn't blink if he left Chelsea for a €100m. Yet, as of now, he's nowhere to be found. No shirt number at Chelsea. No place in the Cobham locker room. And no club lined up to end this fiasco. It's a disaster...

Does he have himself to blame? Sure. But you just wonder who now acts as his sounding board? Just what is he paying Roc Nation for? All the way from LA, they can do woke with the best of 'em. But guiding and offering meaningful football advice? Well, Rom now has his answer...

But it was Lukaku who spoke with Juventus in March. It was he who agreed terms immediately after the Champions League final. And steeped in the culture of Inter Milan over two seasons, he knew the risks he was taking with the Nerazzurri support. Of course, it's all 20:20 now. But he should've been stopped. It's a move that still makes next-to-no sense, even today. The wages on offer bore little difference with what Inter were tabling. The Nerazzurri had just reached the Champions League final as Juve were being thrown out of all UEFA competitions. And he was regarded as legend by both fans and those inside the club.

When it broke that he'd been speaking with Juve, people were hurt. The fans, of course. But also those he had mixed with day-to-day. The response offered by teammates and directors pointed to something personal. It cut deep, like a friendship betrayed.

Teammate and captain Lautaro Martinez really kicked things off in late July as it was becoming clear Lukaku was never planning to return: "I tried to call him but he never replied.

“He did the same with his other teammates. After so many years together, I was disappointed."

Vice-president and Inter great Javier Zanetti later stated: "We expected a different behavior after everything Inter had done for him.

"He has the right to go where he wants, we would have accepted it, but it was only necessary to say so in time.

"However, no one can be more important than the club, and when creating a team, you always need to think about who to put in the dressing room."

As we say, he's upset fans, teammates and club officials. Zanetti and Lautaro are two gentleman of the game. Yet, Lukaku drove them to such a reaction. How did it get to such a point?

But that's on Inter's side. At Juve, the response has been just as bitter. Ultras are hanging anti-Rom banners outside the training ground. Exes are demanding the club back Dusan Vlahovic and reject the Belgian. And now even Max Allegri, the Juve coach, has gone cold on the idea.

"I am happy with the squad at my disposal and I doubt any new players will arrive," Allegri stated over the weekend.

“We will start the season with this group, we are covered in every role. The club is vigilant on the market, I don't know what will happen, but I am very happy."

Yet, even if messrs Giovanni Manna and Cristiano Giuntoli were to present Allegri with Lukaku today, what could Juve's coach do with him? No preseason training. No preseason games. And with a record of four different teams in the last four years. Just what is the investment worth?

This isn't a knock on the ability of Lukaku. Indeed, it's that quality which makes this situation all the more depressing. Football has one of it's great players and personalities sidelined - and looking down the barrel of a season written off.

What are you doin', Rom? It's a disaster. An absolute disaster. Get some decent football men around you and sort yourself out.