Romelu Lukaku has revealed he didn’t want to leave Chelsea in 2023.
Lukaku rejoined Chelsea in a club-record £97.5m fee from Inter Milan in 2021, but endured a disappointing return to Stamford Bridge.
The Belgian scored just eight Premier League goals during his debut season and caused controversy after an interview to Sky Italia. In the interview, Lukaku discussed a desire to return to Inter Milan and criticised the tactics of Thomas Tuchel.
Lukaku was loaned back to Inter Milan in 2022/23 and scored 14 goals in all competitions as the club reached the Champions League final.
However, he has now revealed that he wanted another opportunity at Chelsea after returning from that loan spell, only to be told he had no future in West London.
Speaking to Koolcast Sport, he said: “After the Champions League final, I go back to Chelsea and I said that I want a chance with the first team. They sent me to the reserves. What comes out in the media? I want to leave! No, I didn’t want to leave.”
Lukaku joined Roma on loan for the 2023/24 season before a permanent transfer to Napoli last summer. Last season, he scored 14 times in Serie A and provided 10 assists as the club won the Serie A title under Antonio Conte.
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