Romelu Lukaku is starring for Napoli this season (Picture: Getty Images)
Romelu Lukaku has mocked the criticism he received while playing in the Premier League, saying a false narrative was spun and people did not understand his game in England.
The Belgian had spells in the Premier League with Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton and West Brom, but is now plying his trade in Serie A with Napoli.
It was a mixed time for him in England, although his figures of 121 goals in 278 Premier League games are more than respectable.
The 31-year-old feels he was harshly treated by critics during his stints in England, feeling that opinions of him were formed that went unchallenged and were inaccurate.
‘The narrative has always been if someone says something about you and as a footballer you don’t react to it. Everyone runs with it and that’s what happend to me,’ Lukaku told Friends of Sports.
‘I remember the narratives when I was in England was: “He’s lazy, he doesn’t work hard, he’s not a leader, he’s selfish, first touch, he cannot hold a ball, blah blah blah.
‘I played for two years at Inter [Milan]: “His back to goal, he’s the best player in the world, he’s top five!″.’
Lukaku’s two spells at Chelsea were underwhelming (Picture: Getty Images)
Lukaku feels when he first arrived at Chelsea in 2011 there was too much expectation for him to be the new Didier Drogba, but the two strikers have different styles of play.
‘In England, they wanted to put me in a box,’ he said. ‘They see someone built like me and think he’s the new Drogba, and because Didier did what he did they think I have to do the same.
‘I’m not like that. Didier was more back to goal, he could hold up the ball no matter where you play it in from. That wasn’t my style, bro. Just let me make my run in behind, play me in.’
Lukaku is now in Italy with Napoli, his third Serie A club after time with Inter and Roma.
Romelu Lukaku and Antonio Conte are back together at Napoli (Picture: Getty Images)
It has been a strong start to the season under Antonio Conte with Napoli top of Serie A after seven games and Lukaku scoring three in five.
Conte worked with Lukaku to great success at Inter as they won the Serie A title in 2021 together and the Italian is delighted to be reunited with the Belgian.
Speaking last month, Conte said: ‘I have always said that I wanted Romelu at Inter, had also requested him at Chelsea before he went to Manchester United, because he is an atypical striker.
‘He is extremely tall and physically strong, but also very good at sprinting forward. His condition is still nowhere near optimal, but he becomes fundamental for us.’
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