Romelu Lukaku, the former Chelsea striker known for his powerful play and goal-scoring prowess, has recently made headlines with his candid remarks about his second stint at Chelsea. His time at Stamford Bridge was marked by a promising start that quickly descended into chaos. The 31-year-old footballer believes he was unfairly criticised during this period.
Lukaku returned to Chelsea in August 2021 after a seven-year hiatus, with the Blues shelling out an impressive £97.5 million to re-sign him. This came after spending two seasons on loan away from Stamford Bridge.
The Belgian striker initially hit the ground running under manager Thomas Tuchel, showing promise and potential in early games. However, an unsanctioned interview mid-season turned both the dressing room and fan base against him as his goal-scoring form suffered a significant drop-off.
The Downfall of Lukaku's second spell
Lukaku’s second spell at Chelsea took a turn for the worse following an inflammatory interview that wasn't sanctioned by the club management or PR team. This incident not only affected his relationship with fans but also caused friction within the dressing room.
His performance on-field also took a hit post this controversy as he struggled to maintain his initial scoring form. As a result of these complications, Lukaku was loaned back to former club Inter Milan for the 2022-23 season before spending last term with Roma.
After leaving Stamford Bridge permanently this summer and having brief stints with Inter Milan and Roma, Romelu Lukaku is now showcasing his skills at Napoli where he seems to be regaining form rapidly. In just six games since joining Napoli, he has already scored three goals while providing five assists - indicating that perhaps a change of scenery was what the Belgian striker needed to get back on track.
Lukaku's take on his Chelsea criticism
Recently, while appearing on a podcast Romelu Lukaku reopened old wounds by addressing the criticism he faced during his second spell at Chelsea. He claimed that he was mis-profiled and unfairly criticised, hinting at dissatisfaction with how his time at Stamford Bridge was perceived.
Romelu Lukaku, Napoli striker, said:
"In England, they wanted to put me in a box, They see someone built like me and think he's the new [Didier] Drogba, and because Didier did what he did they think I have to do the same. I'm not like that. Didier was more back to goal, he could hold up the ball no matter where you play it in from. That wasn't my style, bro.
"The narratives when I was in England was, 'he's lazy, he doesn't work hard, he's not a leader, he's selfish, first, he cannot hold a ball, blah, blah, blah'. I played 2 years at Inter, 'back to goal he's the best player in the world, he's top-five'."
Romelu Lukaku's second stint at Chelsea serves as an intriguing case study in football dynamics. It underscores how off-field incidents can impact on-field performance and team dynamics. As for Lukaku, it seems that his move to Napoli is proving beneficial for him as he continues to silence critics with impressive performances.
