Speaking at an event in Monaco to mark the 30th anniversary of his P&P Sport Management agency, Pastorello confirmed the Belgium striker's departure in terms that left little room for ambiguity.
"A lot of things have changed," he told Sky Sport. "The manager has left and the club is going to invest to redeem (Rasmus) Hojlund. I cannot see Napoli keeping two strikers of this level."
Rasmus Hojlund, the Denmark international who joined Napoli on loan from Manchester United last summer, has had his purchase option triggered by the club following a productive season that included 14 Serie A goals. With Hojlund secured as the frontline striker, Napoli are moving on from Lukaku, who has one year remaining on his contract and earns approximately €8.5 million per year — a salary that puts him beyond the reach of most clubs even at a discounted transfer fee.
Lukaku's season was largely defined by injury. A series of muscular problems limited him to a peripheral role in what was supposed to be Antonio Conte's title challenge. Napoli eventually finished second in Serie A, with Inter Milan edging them to the Scudetto. Pastorello is clear that the World Cup this summer — where Lukaku will lead Belgium's attack — represents the moment that will determine the market around the 31-year-old.
"Romelu has a fixed target right now, which is the World Cup," Pastorello said separately. "That will give him the right stage. He is still a top player."
Meanwhile, Pastorello also confirmed that a Serie A club — understood to be Napoli — had made a formal approach to bring Simone Inzaghi back to Italy. The former Inter Milan manager left for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia last summer and finished second in the Saudi Pro League, a result Pastorello was at pains to contextualise.
"Nobody in Saudi has ever won a championship with so many points," he said. "Now he absolutely wants to do the second year at Al Hilal. But sooner or later he will return to Italy."
Fenerbahçe and Porto have both been linked with Lukaku, with the latter club — managed by Francesco Farioli — understood to be monitoring the situation. A return to the Premier League has not been ruled out, though his wage demands narrow the list of realistic options significantly.