La Gazzetta dello Sport explains the four reasons why Romelu Lukaku rejected a move to Chelsea, despite the opportunity of doubling his wages.
Lukaku is on a €7.5m-a-year deal at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, but, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea were ready to offer him a new €15m-a-year deal.
The pink paper had revealed talks between the Belgian star and the Premier League giants on Thursday, but Lukaku refused to continue negotiations, opting to stay at Inter.
The 28-year-old had already played at Stamford Bridge in 2011 but could manage only 15 appearances at a senior level before a loan moves to West Brom and Everton with the Toffees that eventually signed him on a permanent €35m deal in 2014.
Lukaku also played for Manchester United, but according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he doesn’t have good memories from his Premier League days as he often received criticism from tabloids that discussed more his weight than his performances on the pitch.’
The Belgian striker has also settled in Milan, where he has bought three apartments and started some businesses around the city. He is also on very good terms with Inter fans who have always supported him during his two-year spell at the club.
Lukaku doesn’t forget Inter offered him an escape route from Manchester United when he wanted to leave Old Trafford at all costs in 2019. Inter are one of the clubs he supported as a child, so the Belgian doesn’t want to leave now.
Last but not least, Lukaku wants to win another piece of silverware with the Nerazzurri after their Serie A title in 2020-21. The former Everton and Manchester United hitman has even more motivation than last season as Antonio Conte left the club, so Lukaku wants to become the leader of another winning campaign.