Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan, Premier League, Serie A
Nick Emms
Topics: Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan, Premier League, Serie A
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has opened up on Romelu Lukaku’s struggles at Stamford Bridge.
The 29-year-old arrived for a club-record £97.5 million last summer and failed to match his goal tally from the previous season.
Lukaku scored 15 goals in all competitions, half of his 30 from his previous season at Inter Milan.
A poor season at Stamford Bridge has seen the Belgian linked with a return to the San Siro this summer as Chelsea and Inter are ‘motivated’ in securing the deal.
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Furthermore, Lukaku sat down with Italian media last December to repair his relationship with the Serie A side’s fans.
This interview saw the forward criticise the system played at Chelsea, with him struggling to return to the starting line-up towards the end of the season as Kai Havertz was preferred.
When asked about the reason for Lukaku struggling on his return to Chelsea, former Blue Mikel explained what he believes to be the key to his poor form.
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Speaking on a radio programme, Mikel said: “The league is totally different. English league is too powerful, too strong, too fast. Italian league is too slow, slow you know. English league (has) too much quality.
“(Actually), I wouldn’t say too much, but the pace of English football is way too much for Italian league. In the Italian league you can play until you're 40-years-old. You put in more energy and work in the Premier League, definitely.”
However, Lukaku is no stranger to the Premier League, having played for Chelsea, West Brom, Everton and Manchester United in the past.
He found his best form under Antonio Conte in Italy, leading Inter to a Serie A title and looks increasingly likely to return to the San Siro this summer.
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The forward is reportedly ready to take a pay-cut in order to return to Milan, with his current salary at Chelsea believed to be in the region of £325,000-a-week.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has spent time in Italy over the summer, taking a well deserved break after a long season for the Blues and was caught joking with an Inter fan about Lukaku.
Owner of the restaurant where Tuchel was eating, Eulo Mattioni, revealed: “Tuchel was very kind, we had a good laugh over the Lukaku situation, he ordered two pizzas for himself and his partner, congratulated us on the restaurant and its location. It was lovely.”
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It seems likely that Tuchel is aware of Lukaku’s desire to return to Italy, where he could perhaps rediscover his best form as Mikel provided his verdict on the differences between the Serie A and Premier League.