Much has been said and written about Manchester United and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku during his career, not all of it positive. At times the big striker has come across as arrogant, which has not helped him in the last 12 months in Manchester.
He has struggled to keep the Red Devils fans onside and has not been in the best form for United. His lukewarm form has led to speculation he could leave Manchester this summer.
Lukaku adds to the speculation over his future
After the former Everton striker grabbed a brace in a 3-0 win over Scotland on Tuesday night, a reporter asked him if he would be a United player next season, he replied by saying: “It’s up to the club. The club has to come out with statements. I’m not here to entertain any rumours. I just play my football and we’ll take it from there.”
It seems like the forward is willing to move on this summer if his current employers are open to selling him. Lukaku is known to be highly ambitious and showed very little loyalty to former club Everton when United came calling. His statement suggests that he has very little love for his current club.
Not fulfilled his promise at United
At Everton, Romelu Lukaku looked like one of the best strikers in Europe. He was consistently prolific for the Toffees. However, they could not match the striker’s ambitions of winning titles and trophies. Ironic, United are not in a position to match the striker’s ambitions either.
Despite what many believe is a failed career at United so far, he has still scored 28 goals in 68 Premier League appearances. His record is not a terrible one.
However, it is not one of a player who has ambitions to be the best striker in the world. It is also not a tally of a forward who cost a club £75million, even in the current transfer market.
Maybe it is for the best Lukaku moves on
At 26 years of age, Lukaku has been playing first-team football for close to ten years. He is a highly experienced professional, who should now be at the peak of his powers.
The former Chelsea star should be the focal point of United’s attack. He status as the teams first choice striker should not be in doubt that is for sure. Yet here we are, with the Lukaku looking likely to move on this summer.
With Manchester United’s starting line-up in major need of an overhaul, picking up a big fee for the striker could help United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to rebuild his ailing team.
The club are reportedly set to heavily back the former Molde boss. However, the Red Devils still have to stay within the Financial Fair Play rules this summer too. That means the likes of Lukaku and indeed Paul Pogba.
Italian giants Inter and Juventus are high in the betting to be the striker’s next club. At this moment in time, it would not be a massive surprise to see the 26-year-old leave for Serie A.
It would be a shame for both the striker and United if he leaves as a failure. However, it seems that he was not the player United or indeed Lukaku believed he was.
Where will Romelu Lukaku be playing next season?
