The Romelu Lukaku Transfer Was a Rare Occasion Where Everyone Won
By George Cannon
Football is all about winners and losers. For every victory, there must also be someone on the receiving end suffering defeat. However, Romelu Lukaku's transfer to Inter last summer was one of those rare occasions where everyone came out on top.
The Belgium international record goalscorer joined Manchester United for £75m from Premier League rivals Everton in the summer of 2017 and his 27 goals in all competitions that season appeared to justify such a huge outlay.
However, things quickly deteriorated for the former Anderlecht academy graduate. Jose Mourinho's sacking led to Lukaku finding himself in and out of the starting XI as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked to make his mark at Old Trafford and it soon appeared that he was no longer assured of his place in the side.
He scored just 15 goals in 45 appearances for the Red Devils throughout the 2018/19 campaign, his lowest total since 2011/12. Lukaku's style sometimes makes him look a little clumsy and coupled with his poor record in big matches, he soon fell out of favour with the United supporters.
Despite what some reports would have you believe, it was Lukaku who chose to leave United 12 months ago rather than him being pushed out of the door. However, Solskjaer wasn't too sad to see him go.
“Solskjaer has my eternal respect. He understood me when I said in March that it was time for me to leave England,” Lukaku told Het Belang van Limburg last year.
“I have been in the Premier League as an 18-year-old boy and now I am 26. Solskjaer wanted to keep me, but I was ready for something new.”
It was Inter and Antonio Conte that came calling for Lukaku once he had decided his time in England was up. The Italian manager had tried to sign him for Chelsea two years earlier before the Belgian chose Mourinho and United instead.
His two goals against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Nerazzurri's 5-0 thumping of the Ukrainian's on Monday night took Lukaku's total to 33 in all competitions. It means he became the first-ever player to score in ten consecutive Europa League games, a run stretching back to his Everton days, as well as taking him to within one strike of the Brazilian Ronaldo's record 34-goal tally.
The build-up to Inter's first European semi-final since 2010 centred around their revived record signing. Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport featured him on their front page three days running, an indication of the importance Lukaku holds to his new side and the quality he has shown in his debut campaign at San Siro.
Lukaku, along with Ashley Young and Alexis Sanchez was denied a fairytale final against their former side when Sevilla defeated United in the other semi-final. But he was still full of praise for his old team after the final whistle.
"United tried their hardest," Lukaku told BT Sport when asked about their Europa League exit. "I think they had a really good season.
"I think Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer) did a really good job. The players, they did really well. Greenwood coming through, Martial and Rashford, I expected all of that. I’m really happy for them. They look really good for next season, I have no doubt."
United's front-three have gelled to devastating effect this season, particularly post-lockdown when 18-year-old Mason Greenwood has been fully immersed in the first-team action. It often feels as though United's attacking trio are somewhat left to their own devices, given the confidence and freedom by their manager to express themselves and rely on their natural chemistry and individual brilliance to come up with match-winning moments. 63 goals in all competitions for them shows it's working but it probably wouldn't for Lukaku.
Although the Belgian forward can create chances on his own - as his second goal on Monday showed - utilising his unique combination of pace, power and controlled finishing, he often benefits from playing in a more disciplined and systematic side.
At Everton, where he scored 87 goals in 166 matches, the whole system was designed to get the best out of him. And although Conte's Inter are a more collective unit with other superstars such as Lautaro Martinez to pander to, their style suits him perfectly. They're more direct when in possession. They swing more crosses into the box and their contentedness to sit deep and soak up pressure provides Lukaku with plenty of space to run in to.
It appears to be a match made in heaven for Lukaku in Milan but you'll do well to find a United fan cursing his early exit.
Greenwood featured in 50 games this season, a huge window of opportunity opened by the former Chelsea man's move. Lukaku has rediscovered his best form, United have recouped almost all of their money and discovered another homegrown talent, whilst Inter are one match away from their first piece of silverware in nine years.
It's not often everybody ends up happy in football, but this is one time they did.