Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku reflected on his initial arrival at Inter, their Scudetto success and his self-confidence at this stage of his career.
The 30-year-old Belgian striker shined during his first two years with the Nerazzurri and earnt an €113m move to Chelsea in the summer of 2021. Things didn’t go well in his first season back at the Blues and the following summer he left to return to Inter on a €20m total loan deal.
Lukaku’s loan does not contain a permanence clause, so he’ll return to Chelsea at the end of this month. He has no desire to play in West London again and is pushing for a new deal to be set up with Inter, leaving his future shrouded in doubt.
Speaking on ‘One for All’ to Prime Video via TMW, Lukaku first reflected on his initial arrival at Inter.
“I still remember the first day I signed for Inter. I landed, the people, the weather, the food… My family was happy there, for me it was everything. I was happy there. If we had won nothing, no trophy, I would have been very disappointed. That’s how it is. It was a motivation to win.
“Until now, I have scored a lot of goals, but I still have nothing here (international trophies, ed.) It’s really difficult for me, it was the hardest thing of all. The first year we lost, I was very bitter. But I can’t sit still, I have to keep going.”
The Belgian striker then reflected on the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto success under Antonio Conte in the 2020-21 season.
“Then we became champions. Ok, I knew we would be from day one. The training sessions were… motivating. I felt motivated. I felt that I had reached the next level and that would help me throughout the season. And then when it happened, I thought ‘we did it. Romelu, you really did it’.
“And then it all stopped and that’s when it all started. Sometimes in life you can be an entrepreneur, a doctor, an artist, that’s enough but a moment like that, that song, that day. Everyone hopes to have that moment in their life, that moment when you think ‘I am where I want to be’.
“For me it was that moment when I thought ‘Ok, I made it’. And I showed my emotions on the pitch for the first time (crying at San Siro on the day of the Scudetto celebration, ed). An emotion of pure joy. I was overjoyed.”
Finally, Lukaku discussed his self-belief and confidence, despite the various criticisms he receives.
“Happy with myself, that’s what matters most, I accept who I am, and I don’t care what others think. I remember where I came from and what I saw, I can only be happy with where I am.
“I know there are other things in life, and I accept that, I will continue to be judged for my performance and I accept that, so let’s talk about those.
“Leave my life to me. It is difficult for me to show my true self, you don’t know anything about me, it is only my business and nobody else’s.”