While Romelu Lukaku says it was ‘a mistake’ to leave Inter the first time, Thomas Tuchel admits it is not ‘likely’ that he’ll ever play for Chelsea again.
The striker pushed for a transfer to Stamford Bridge last summer in a deal worth €113m, but immediately regretted it, apologising to the fans in a Sky Sport Italia interview in December 2021.
He was even more determined to come back and achieved it on loan at a cost of circa €10m.
Speaking at an event to present the new Inter jerseys for the 2022-23 campaign, Lukaku confessed what he had previously only hinted at.
“The biggest challenge of my career will be this season here. I left. It was a mistake, right Nico?” he giggled with teammate Nicolò Barella.
“Now I am happy to be wearing this jersey, the team knows what we need to do, it’ll be a great challenge this season and we need to continue like this.
“I realised last season when I was in England, just how important Inter are in the world. The club’s profile is improving on an international scale, the social media approach is really important too and you can see how we act in the locker room, in training, our hugs and jokes.
“Milan is a wonderful city and that is why I kept the old apartment when I went to London, because my mother was coming here all the time and I wanted to return too.”
Also today, Chelsea manager Tuchel spoke to Sky Sports about what happens once Lukaku’s loan spell at Inter is over. Will he return to the Blues?
“Given the fact he’s just on loan, of course there’s a chance,” said Tuchel.
“I don’t know if it’s very likely, but it’s not on me to give an outlook on that. There is a chance for it.”
Inter perhaps did not expect it to be as easy as it was to get Lukaku back on loan just a year after selling him for €113m, but player power made the difference.
“We decided together with the owners that we’d let him go. It was his wish to go, he had the possibility, we let him go.”
It was a mistake, but honestly, one Chelsea could have rectified by firing Tuchel, instead of dumping Lukaku.
He needs a system more tailored to him. And let’s not pretend Lukaku flopped at Chelsea. He scored 20 goals, in all competitions.
LUIGI
If u start to firing all coaches because of 1 player has problem with adapting to the coachs tactics. It will end up with teams with no coaches.
He’s fine in Italy as the pace of the game is slow like him. He plays in a 20 yard square. Flopped at Chelsea twice, flopped at United, bang average player and don’t know why Chelsea bought him in the first place. Chelsea fans would have Tuchel over Lukaku 100% good riddance and don’t come back.
Luigi focus on inter brother and leave Chelsea alone. You want to fire one of the best coaches in Europe for a player that did not preform well while he was given a good chance to do so. As a Chelsea fan I wanted him to succeed but he did not and that’s that.
George, i thank you for your reply. However, Luigi is right. When Chelsea made the decision to sign me, it was clearly a statement of intent — instead, the coach showed me his personal intent, viz to play other strikers instead of me. It was a huge disgrace to my family who had travelled thousands of kilometers to see me play at the bridge.
He never loved Chelsea, in fact he doesn’t even love any club… he is a betrayal to the Chelsea family… now I understand the unfinished business vibes.. the business is to make inter richer…. you are not good enough for the Premier league…. bang flop of all time
A mistake?? He snuck out of Italy through the backdoor of an airport and declared himself to be at home at Chelsea. No, donkey. You were and are a lacking in versatility and character footballer who when challenged quickly downs tools.
Broomy
Whenever an English football fan trying to come up to a rational that is anything football related, their brain only comes up with one word. PACE. The same nonsense I’d hear in the 90’s, and it seems that time stands still when it comes to remaining hopelessly misinformed.
Mistake or not he has flopped in England at two big clubs and that is factual. One is now a semi big club like Juventus, but he has the physical presence and Inter know how to use him. With Inter’s attack, only Milan will offer a challenge again.
Lukaku is an exceptional player , however he couldn’t keep up with de demands of the premier league
Hi Broomy!
I saw Romelu at Inter: his power is impressive in the open field.
I didn’t see Romelu playing at Chelsea. If he was playing in a 20-yard square, this was a serious tactical mistake. If you invest a lot of money in a player, I think you should study the tactical schemes that best enhance him. Don’t you think so? Hi Broomy.
Come on Romelu! 🙂
Mulanga
demands of the premier league? What league did Everton play in when he was banging in the goals there? Doctor martins league?
GO AWAY RICH CRYBABY LAKAKA AND NEVER EVER COME BACK!
simple fact is that chelsea payed a ton of money for a player they thought could play anyway they liked. Lukaku is top 5 striker in the world – when he plays in his system. take him out of that system and he is nothing special. he still scored goals last season, but not at the level of 110m striker. If inzaghi played him in lautaro’s role, he would also struggle. However a smart coach plays to his players strengths. Lukaku is big, not a great touch, but great finishing and speed. playing on the counter sees that flourish. No more rubbish about not being good enough for epl – his first season at man u he scored goals for fun, second season got tougher and when ole came in they changed the system (away from his strengths) and he was out the door
Broomy. Think of that €113m, a truly extraordinary piece of business. That sums up the whole club from directors to fans. very well done. THANK YOU.
I believe despite being called a flop he still finished as Chelsea top goal scorer. Why would he ever want to continue with Chelsea since it was clear he was not in the same page as Tuchel. All of this will help Inter because to have a motivated player who’s trying to prove to the world again that he’s the best. Messi and Ronaldo became the best in the world and didn’t do that in EPL. At the end of the day the goals and trophies will be the ones that matter all the talks about him failing in EPL are just nonesense. The best Chelsea could hope for is not get Inter in the CL because that will be a very entertaining match
Sorry Italian fans but your football is slow and boring, defensive, that’s why a 40 year old Striker like Zlatan shows you up and wins Serie A playing without an ACK.You can have Lukaku as technically he just isn’t all that. Plus your league is not that strong… when did your club last win the champions league btw.. your welcome to Lukaku who will be sold eventually… so the business side is not over.