What does the future hold for Chelsea’s £98m record signing Romelu Lukaku?
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Of the £98m spent on Romelu Lukaku by Chelsea, they’d be lucky to recoup a third of that if they tried to sell him right now.
The Premier League club and Inter Milan have a big problem due to their failed return to Italy coupled with the fact that the Belgian striker experienced a disastrous World Cup.
His failure in Qatar with Belgium perfectly captured all of Lukaku’s limits: he looks exhausted and no longer has the power or durability of two years ago.
Romelu Lukaku is in trouble after living a disastrous World Cup with Belgium
Lukaku is no longer as technically solid as he once was, exemplified by the three big chances he missed during his decisive group game with Croatia.
Lukaku was once a ‘wolf’ but has become a ‘shy lamb’ who is anonymous on the pitch and struggles to deal with the physical impact of training.
He is a shadow of himself and his tears after Belgium’s embarrassing group stage exit show he feels responsible for his lack of impact on the pitch.
Lukaku’s World Cup ended with his mistakes on the pitch and his tears in the arms of Thierry Henry.
Right now, the number 9 from Belgium is experiencing the toughest moment of his career.
His injury problems are undeniable, but he has been consistently poor throughout 2022 with Chelsea, Inter Milan and Belgium.
Lukaku missed several important chances during Belgium’s decisive group match against Croatia
Lukaku was crying after they left the World Cup and was hugged by Thierry Henry
After the tears of his World Cup exit, Lukaku is desperate to be a star man in Serie A again.
At the moment, Inter are very disappointed with his performance on the pitch, but will take advantage of his poor form to ask Chelsea to extend his loan for another 12 months.
Initially, the deal when he returned to Italy called for a purchase in the summer of 2023, but his poor performances convinced Inter to stand firm and postpone any decision on his future for another 12 months.
Below, sports mail take a look at the key factors affecting Lukaku’s current form and weigh what the future may hold for the Chelsea loan.
UNDER PRESSURE TO IMPRESS
When Lukaku returned to Inter for the second time, he chose the 1990s jersey, which in the Neapolitan kabbalah means “fear.”
Right now, the former Chelsea striker fears he has made the wrong decision with various career choices, including his decision to part ways with Antonio Conte.
In his long career, Lukaku has managed to play to his full potential only under the Italian coach, failing to replicate that form on almost every other team he has played for.
Lukaku is popular at Inter Milan after his first spell but has failed to impress this season.
With Inter this season he has played only four times in Serie A, scoring only once.
That’s not enough for the highest-paid player in the league.
He has played only once in the Champions League, he has scored once and the next few months will be crucial to understand the real value of a player who arrived at Inter’s training camp weighing over 100kg in the summer.
INZAGHI’S 3-5-2 AND THE PRESENCE OF DZEKO DO NOT HELP
Lukaku’s drop in performance has been evident and his dominance during his first spell at Inter was favored by the low level of Serie A.
His second Italian experience in the top flight shows a player in physical and technical decline, unable to unseat Edin Dzeko, 36, in the front line of Inter.
He scored 47 goals in 72 league games in an exceptional first spell with Inter under Conte’s tutelage.
But recently, Lukaku has been spending more time on the sidelines due to injury.
Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation doesn’t help bring out the best in Lukaku, but his lack of form and fitness are the main reasons for his struggles on his return to Inter.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation doesn’t help bring out the best in Lukaku
Lukaku has not been able to unseat Edin Dzeko, 36, from Inter’s starting eleven in attack either
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE FUTURE OF LUKAKU?
According to Dazn, Inter would like to renew Lukaku’s loan at a discounted price compared to the £9.6m loan fee paid to bring him back to Italy in the summer.
However, Chelsea don’t want to raise their salary contribution for a player who betrayed the dressing room and caused the club to squander a fortune.
The negotiations for the future of Lukaku will be very long and painful for both clubs.
Both regret signing the striker and seek an agreement to limit the economic damage.
Surely Inter and Chelsea will find a solution, but a deadlock is not ruled out.
Lukaku is still officially a Chelsea player, and the Blues are keen to limit the financial damage of their record-breaking signing when he finally part ways with the club.
At Inter’s Christmas party, CEO Beppe Marotta spoke clearly about Lukaku’s future, Corriere dello Sport reported.
Marotta said: ‘Romelu is a player who loves Inter and we have understood that for some time. However, we expect something important from him.
“He is struggling with this muscular discomfort, but I think he is cured, now he must find the best physical condition.”