‘Romelu Lukaku will return to Serie A’ confirms the striker’s agent after his £98million Chelsea move in summer but ‘now it’s time for the Blues to enjoy’ the Belgian forward
By Isabel Baldwin
Romelu Lukaku only returned to the Premier League this summer but the Chelsea striker will return to Serie A at some point in his career, his agent Federico Pastorello confirmed.
The Belgian sealed a £98million move to Chelsea in August after winning the title with Inter Milan last season but has not scored in the league since mid-September.
The 28-year-old has scored five goals for the European champions but missed six games through injury after limping off during Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Malmo in October.
Now, the forward would be interested in a return to Italy, according to his agent, but is not planning an immediate move as it is ‘time for Chelsea to enjoy Romelu’.
Pastorello told Tuttosport: ‘One day we will see Lukaku back in Serie A, because he loves Italy. But now it’s time for Chelsea to enjoy Romelu.’
Lukaku moved to Inter Milan in 2019 after struggling at Manchester United and has alway spoken fondly of his time in Serie A, claiming it improved him as a player.
‘When I went to Italy, it’s where, under the guidance of Antonio Conte, I learnt what it took to go and break that barrier,’ he said via The Sun.
‘When we did win [the Serie A title] last year, you could se the emotions in my face.
‘For me, it was ten years of hard work, with a lot of ups and downs, but in the end, it was good.
‘Coming into my prime years, I know myself and I know what it takes. I know how to be a leader and what it takes to help my team.
‘Technically, I have improved because before, back to goal was not really my thing, I didn’t like it, I didn’t enjoy it.
‘But as soon as I started getting better with my back-to-goal play, it was better for me because I could score more goals but I could also create more for my team-mates, so my assists went up and I became a more complete player.’
In his second season with the Nerazzurri, Lukaku scored 24 goals in 36 league games to help his side to their first title in 11 years and dethrone Juventus as Serie A Champions.
But Pastorello also revealed that the Belgium international nearly ended up at his former side’s rivals Juventus after the deal with Inter appeared to stall.
‘The deal with Inter had stalled because Zhang seemed unwilling to meet Manchester United’s demands,’ Pastorello explained.
‘Juventus had an agreement with the English, who would have signed Dybala and Mandzukic in exchange for Lukaku.
‘Romelu had already talked to Sarri and Cristiano Ronaldo. But later Dybala and Manchester United, probably both not too convinced, did not reach an agreement.
‘While Marotta, Ausilio, Conte and I managed to convince Zhang to raise the offer.
‘Without detracting from Lukaku’s team mates at Inter, I think that transfer has shifted the balance in Italy.’
