Romelu Lukaku is one of the best centre-forwards in the world today playing for Inter Milan. The young Belgian is already his country’s leading goalscorer of all time and is looking to extend his tally to a very high number. But it was only one season ago that Lukaku was hated by almost everyone and was being trolled because of his big body size and his ‘magical’ first-touch.
Romelu Lukaku signed for Manchester United for a reported fee of £75m in the summer of 2017, from Everton. Jose Mourinho signed Lukaku to replace the ailing Ibrahimovich, looking at Lukaku’s goalscoring prowess at Everton. In a mediocre Toffees side, Lukaku played 166 games, in which he scored 87 goals, showing his class.
GREAT START TO UNITED CAREER –
Also, his physicality, pace and knack of scoring goals against bigger opposition made him a trademark Mourinho signing. The Portuguese manager also handed Lukaku the United No.9 shirt as he walked into the United starting XI. His first season at Old Trafford was very successful as the Belgian international scored 27 goals and provided nine assists in 51 games.
It seemed like a match made in heaven as the team was reportedly built around Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku’s style of play coincided perfectly with the brand of football Jose promoted at United. The Red Devils, under Mourinho, were solid defensively and tried to hit on the counter with the likes of Rashford, Lukaku and Lingard.
Lukaku acted as the focal point whenever United attacked as he could run directly at the defence or hold the ball up and wait for support. The Belgian international was also helped by the long-range passing of Paul Pogba and the speed of Rashford down the wings. With him up top, United could play in various ways, like whip in crosses from the flanks, play in possession and also play on the counter.
SECOND SEASON WOES –
But, the next season, Lukaku barely clicked, just like the rest of the Manchester United squad. Reportedly he gained weight and lost some paces in him, which made him a meme-material. It was visible that Lukaku was trying too hard to impress the United fan base, as he was doing things he isn’t related doing.
He often found himself as the scapegoat for United’s poor performances and was largely criticized by his own fans, let alone other clubs’ fans. Manchester United’s poor run of form also meant that Jose Mourinho was sacked in the middle of the season, in December. The Portuguese manager was replaced by the caretaker manager and former United legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
ARRIVAL OF OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER –
The Norwegian had made it clear from day-1 that he wanted a certain type of game, which was very different from that of Mourinho’s. He also preferred Marcus Rashford as his centre-forward, rather than Romelu Lukaku, which was a shock to the Belgian. But, Lukaku made sure that whenever Solskjaer used him, he scored as he often saved United from blushes.
Manchester United went on a great run of form, which saw Solskjaer appointed as the manager on a permanent basis. This was bad news for Lukaku, as he saw himself down the pecking order, behind Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. In his second season at United, Lukaku played 45 games in which he only scored 15 goals and provided four assists.
His slump in form and confidence coincided with Solskjaer’s choice to choose Rashford and Martial over him. When the season ended, there were rumours that Lukaku was wanted by Antonio Conte at Inter Milan. It was also reported that Lukaku wanted to leave as he wanted to start every game as the main centre-forward of the team.
FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN –
Lukaku, then, missed the pre-season training with United and was fined. The Belgian trained with his former side Anderlecht and once also revealed the speed stats of the United training whiles replying to one of the internet bullies. This didn’t sit well with Solskjaer as Lukaku was reportedly asked to take down the picture from Instagram.
It also proved to be the last nail in Lukaku’s career at United as the Red Devils decided to ship him off to Inter Milan to end his misery. Since joining Inter, Lukaku has got his knack of scoring goals and confidence back as he scored 34 goals in 51 games last season. After all this, it remains a question that what could have been if Lukaku had played at United had Solskjaer used him correctly.
