Romelu Lukaku gave a remarkable interview with Sky Sport Italia, apologising to Inter fans for the way he left, hoping to play for them again ‘not at the end of my career’ and admitting he ‘cannot be happy with the situation’ at Chelsea.
The striker was a key figure in Antonio Conte’s team that won the Serie A title in 2019 and was a hero to the fans, but after two seasons at San Siro that revitalised his career, he forced a move to Stamford Bridge.
Supporters turned on the 28-year-old and called him a ‘traitor’ for demanding the €115m transfer back to his old club Chelsea, where he had already played in 2011-12.
Now Lukaku has given a frank interview with Sky Sport Italia, confessing he regrets quite a few of his decisions made last summer.
“After two years in Italy, where I worked so hard at Inter with the fitness staff and nutritionist, I feel better than ever,” said the Belgium international.
“However, I am not happy with the situation at Chelsea, that is normal. I think the coach chose to play a different system, I just have to not give up, keep working and be professional. I am not happy with the situation, but I’m a hard worker and I mustn’t give up.”
Asked to look back over his summer and the manner of his exit from San Siro, Lukaku confesses to regrets.
“It wasn’t meant to happen like that. The way I left Inter, the way I communicated with the fans, this annoys me, because this might not be the right time to say it, but back then it didn’t feel like the right moment either.
“Now I think it’s right to speak, because I said that I will always have Inter in my heart and I genuinely hope to one day go back to play there. I am in love with Italy, this is the time to let people know what really happened, without bad-mouthing anyone, because that’s not my style.”
Only snippets of the interview have been released, as the rest will air on Sky Sport Italia on December 31.
“I want to apologise to Inter fans, because I think the way I left should’ve been done differently. I should’ve spoken to you first, because the things you did for me, for my family, my mother, my son, those will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“I really, genuinely from the bottom of my heart hope to come back to Inter, not at the end of my career, but while I am still at the level to win more trophies.”