More of Romelu Lukaku’s controversial interview has been released with further comments about Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
In an explosive interview with the Italian media, conducted three weeks ago but unveiled yesterday, the Chelsea striker claimed to be unhappy at Stamford Bridge and keen to rejoin Inter Milan.
Lukaku’s interview has caused a stirSky Italy/Getty
On Friday, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel admitted he wasn’t pleased with the Belgian’s comments – and now there’s more.
Lukaku has also revealed he rejected a higher offer than Chelsea’s from Manchester City in 2020, out of loyalty to Inter Milan.
The 28-year-old insists his original plan was to sign a new deal with Inter before eventually joining Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich – with Chelsea not initially in his thoughts.
“When I was at Inter, at the end of the first year, I turned down an offer from Manchester City which was higher than Chelsea’s this summer,” Lukaku told Sky Italy.
“I did it because it had only been a year, it wasn’t the right time to leave and I didn’t want to. I wanted to do something good for Inter, because I have to say that Inter saved my career to some extent.
Lukaku scored 64 goals in 95 appearances for InterGetty Images – Getty
“I was in a deep hole at Manchester United, things weren’t going well. I was a big investment for Inter but we did great things together.
“So the second year after we won the Scudetto, I went to speak with club chiefs and asked for a new contract. I did it because I told myself I’m 28 years old, my family feels great in Milan, I still have my flat there, my mother and my son could come and live there and we would all feel comfortable.
“But they didn’t want to extend my contract, the possibility wasn’t there. It was tough for me to accept, because in my head I told myself that I would be able to do a few more years in Milan.”
“In my opinion, there are three absolute top teams in football – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Every player dreams of playing for one of these teams one day. So I thought if I ever had that possibility, I would sign a new contract with Inter and then go there.
Lukaku is thought to be on £210,000-a-week at Chelsea and Man City offered him more in 2020Getty
“But it didn’t happen, so I told myself that there is only one team where I could possibly see myself – Chelsea. I wasn’t thinking about going there, but at one point they came in for me and so I asked [Inter boss Simone] Inzaghi to leave.
“The fact that they didn’t try to make me sign a
new contract bothered me a bit, it hurt me even. If Inter offered me a new contract, I would have stayed 100 per cent. That goes without saying.
“Also the fact that I hadn’t won anything in England in eight years there bothered me a lot. So it was hard to turn down the chance to come back here with the team I have supported since I was a child.”
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