Romelu Lukaku was expected to join Inter on a permanent deal at the start of the summer (Shutterstock)
Romelu Lukaku has described events leading up to his Chelsea exit this summer as ‘shocking’ and claims there were moments before his move to Roma that made him ‘explode’.
The striker spent last season on loan at Inter and was expected to complete a permanent move to the Serie A club in the summer transfer window.
However, Inter were angered after learning that Lukaku had also been negotiating with Juventus, whose own supporters staged multiple protests against signing the Belgium international.
Lukaku eventually returned to Chelsea in the summer but was made to train away from Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad before he eventually joined Roma on loan.
‘Most of the people in the room know me. You know that I don’t like to beat around the bush. I will speak in time but if I really said how it all went last summer everyone would be shocked,’ Lukaku said during a press conference with Belgium’s national team on Wednesday.
‘There were moments when I really could explode, five years ago I probably would have done that too.
‘Now I have concentrated on what I can do best – playing football.
‘As soon as the negotiations [with Roma] started, I became well informed about the club, the supporters. I must also thank Radja [Nainggolan] who gave me a lot of information. I spent a lot of time talking to Jose Mourinho. The rest is work.
Romelu Lukaku says Jose Mourinho has helped him rediscover his form at Roma (Getty)
‘I worked very hard alone this summer to the point of surprising the Roma staff. I was in a positive mindset, I hadn’t played at my true level for two years and I had to do my best to be back. I was lucky to be able to count on great teammates and staff who helped me.
‘It was said that I was going to sign there or there but that was false. I preferred to remain silent.
’90 per cent of what was said in the media was false and it was hard to keep my mouth shut. I take an example from LeBron James. Every year we hit him. I’m not LeBron but he had the character to always respond and show that he’s there.
‘During the summer I saw what people said about me and I trained to be there the day I had to perform. One day I will tell the truth. The others will also have to assume it at that time.’
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When asked about interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the summer, Lukaku said: ‘I was honoured by that interest but after the conversations I was not completely convinced.
‘They are the biggest club in the Middle East and the league there will become one of the biggest in the world, but I didn’t want to leave Europe yet.’
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