Romelu Lukaku says Solskjaer tried to convince him to stay at Man Utd before £73m Inter Milan transfer

ROMELU LUKAKU revealed Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried to convince him not to leave before joining Inter Milan.

The Belgian striker forced through a £73million transfer this summer ending his two season spell at Old Trafford.

But Lukaku claimed Solskjaer wanted to keep the 26-year-old powerhouse, before accepting his request to join the Serie A.

He told Het Belang van Limburg: “Solskjaer has my eternal respect. He understood me when I said in March that it was time for me to leave.

“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.”

The Belgium international has netted nine in his 12 league games so far this season, playing alongside United flop Alexis Sanchez, who is on loan.

And having plotted his exit away from Old Trafford last season, Lukaku is enjoying his good form in the Italian capital.

He added: ‘I knew it would happen, I was prepared because I had spoken to other footballers about it.

“But I’m having a good time in Italy. The people on the street are very good to me and it’s on that, that I want to focus.”

United boss Solskjaer came under criticism after not replacing departing Lukaku this summer.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have swapped leading the line this season, but Old Trafford bosses are plotting a winter move for Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic.

The Serie A champions are determined to offload the veteran forward, who hasn’t played at all for them this season after being frozen out by Maurizio Sarri.

And it is understood United chiefs have met with Juve bosses to discuss a deal for the Croatian.