Romelu Lukaku has revealed his move to Chelsea was a ‘mistake’ amid his return to Inter Milan on loan this summer.
The Belgian made a sensational comeback to the Blues last year, arriving as their club record signing after two years at Inter.
Despite a promising start to life in his second stint at Stamford Bridge, Lukaku failed to make an impact on the side throughout much of the campaign.
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Questions over his future at Chelsea were raised in January after he conducted an interview with Sky Italia, revealing he was unhappy with his situation at the club.
He ended the campaign with just 15 goals in 44 appearances, and was able to seal a move back to Inter for the forthcoming season, the club where he won the Serie A title in 2021.
Since his return to the San Siro, he has now hinted that his move back to Chelsea after such a successful initial stint at Inter was a ‘mistake’.
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Speaking at the club’s launch event for their new kit, via the Metro, the 29-year-old said: “The biggest challenge of my career will be this season here.
“I left. It was a mistake, right Nico (Barella)? Now I am happy to be wearing this jersey, the team knows what we need to do, it’ll be a great challenge this season and we need to continue like this.
“I realised last season when I was in England, just how important Inter are in the world. The club’s profile is improving on an international scale, the social media approach is really important too and you can see how we act in the locker room, in training, our hugs and jokes.
“Milan is a wonderful city and that is why I kept the old apartment when I went to London, because my mother was coming here all the time and I wanted to return too.”
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Lukaku has now joined Inter on loan for the new season, just under a year after he signed for Chelsea for around £97.5 million.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel has recently denied that he wanted the striker to leave this summer, with the German coach saying: "There was never a meeting where I said, ‘I want this guy out'. Never.
"I was always clear: if he stays we will do everything to put him in a better place, to put him in better shape, to improve my style of coaching, our style of playing, to make him a better fit.
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"It was always a possibility he stayed but Romelu made it very clear he wants to leave and the owners took the decision straight away.”
Topics: Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea