Romelu Lukaku has scored 21 goals in 46 games this season, proving doubters wrong, but he is still expected to return to Chelsea after his loan spell in the capital.
Lukaku contributed to Roma’s key win over Genoa on Sunday night, scoring a goal that allowed the Giallorossi to mathematically secure a sixth-place finish in Serie A and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Lukaku had been criticised by Italy and Juventus legend Andrea Barzagli before kick-off when the former defender said he expected a bigger impact from the Belgium international at Roma.
Lukaku joined the Giallorossi on a dry loan spell from Chelsea last summer and has scored 21 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions this season.
Roma star Lukaku proves Italy legend wrong but Chelsea return likely
The Giallorossi don’t have an option to buy, and signing Lukaku permanently from the Blues would be pretty expensive, especially without the Growth Decree, which the Italian Government scrapped in January.
As reported by Gazzetta, Roma paid circa €17m for Lukaku’s one-season loan. The sum includes a €5.8m loan fee for Chelsea and the player’s €7.5 m-a-year salary, circa €11m gross.
Gazzetta notes that Lukaku is expected to return to Chelsea not only because of a high transfer fee, which is around €42m but also because the Belgian was not entirely convincing despite his goal tally.
Journalist Andrea Pugliese highlights that Lukaku failed to impress in many big Serie A games this season, and given that he’s already 31, Roma are not expected to sign him permanently from Chelsea, so the striker will likely return to Stamford Bridge next month.