Romelu Lukaku sensationally admits he could leave Man Utd this summer amid Juventus transfer links
ROMELU LUKAKU has refused to commit himself to Manchester United and could be on his way this summer. The Belgian forward, 25, talked about his dream of playing in Italy last week. And after United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday he was asked if he would still be at Old Trafford next season. Lukaku […]
ROMELU LUKAKU has refused to commit himself to Manchester United and could be on his way this summer.
The Belgian forward, 25, talked about his dream of playing in Italy last week.
And after United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday he was asked if he would still be at Old Trafford next season.
Lukaku said: “Me? I don’t know, I am not here to entertain rumours. I am still under contract.”
He still has three years left on his current deal which is worth £250,000 a week.
But United might be willing to listen to offers if they can recoup the £75million they have paid Everton for him.
The Belgian has 42 goals in 96 appearances for United.
He had a purple patch when he scored twice in three successive appearances back in February and March, but has now not scored in the last eight.
There have even been question marks over his fitness with Sky pundit Gary Neville claiming he looked ‘knackered’ during Sunday’s game.
Solskjaer has already suggested that the fitness levels at United need to be upped to for his style of play.
‘MORE INTENSITY’
Lukaku admitted: “It is a different playing style now. There is more intensity and you have to be physically prepared.”
Sunday’s draw was a bitter blow to United’s quest to make the top four and the Champions League.
They remain three points behind fourth placed Chelsea with an inferior goal difference and just two games left.
They have now won only twice in their last ten games leaving question marks over the decision to appoint Ole Solskjaer as the full time boss.
Lukaku, however, says the boss needs this summer to really stamp his authority on the club.
He said: “We will be much better. It is not easy changing a manager in the middle of a season. Next year we will be up there.”
The question is will he be with him?
Lukaku is just the latest player to add to the uncertainty that is rife at Manchester United.
‘SERIE A IS A DREAM’
And he openly admitted his desire to play in Italy as he said: “Playing in Serie A is a dream, it would be really a dream.
“I hope to be able to play sooner or later, even if at the moment I am focused on United.”
Juan Mata and Ander Herrera are on their way with their contracts running out while both Marcus Rashford and David De Gea have refused to sign new deals.
Not that De Gea is in a strong bargaining position at present following the latest in a series of gaffs by the Spaniard handed Chelsea a point.
Solskjaer was quick to back him after the game and Lukaku too believes De Gea will come through this troubling spell.
‘HAS SAVED US’
Lukaku said: “He is a really positive person. He analyses really quickly what happens to him.
“He been the best player at the club since what? Seven or eight years consistently. I don’t think we should discredit him like that and suddenly say he is a bad goalkeeper,
“He has saved us so many times this. season. It happens to strikers, it happens to midfielders and now it is happening to him.
“He has to learn from it. Goalkeepers always have a spell when its might be difficult. He has to continue working hard.
“I don’t know how goalkeepers get through it but he works hard every single day. We are here to support him.
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“He is strong. Mentally he is really, really strong or else he wouldn’t have been the best player at the club for seven or eight years. There is no doubting his ability.
“He had a bad time at the start of his United career as I remember and he was just a kid then but came through it.
“He did what he had to do then, turned it round, won trophies and became the best player at the club and he is a leader in the dressing room. Now it is up to us as a team to help him and trust his abilities.”