Romelu Lukaku will no longer play for Manchester United player. The all-time leading scorer in the Belgium national team joined Inter Milan after refusing to join the team’s training ahead of the Premier League opener this Sunday against Chelsea.
No one can deny Lukaku’s ability as a striker. However, the best thing that could have happened for all parties involved was him leaving Manchester for good. He wasn’t happy at the club and was pushing his exit knowing the Deadline Day was on Thursday. Lukaku wanted to play in Italy too. That became an important part of this outcome.
Plus, it’s not like Manchester United are going to miss him much. Lukaku lost the starting role as soon as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived as caretaker manager. The numbers did not help Lukaku’s cause as he ended the 2018/19 Premier League season on a nine-game scoring drought. That is unacceptable for a player that cost nearly €100 million two years ago.
Numbers wise, Lukaku won’t be missed at Old Trafford
The reality is that Lukaku never settled at Old Trafford. If we look at his numbers, these won’t go down in history. The Belgian scored 28 times in 66 Premier League appearances for The Red Devils, netted six goals in 12 Cup matches, and added eight strikes in 18 European outings. Overall, Lukaku netted 42 times in 96 matches donning the Old Trafford shirt.
But things were going to be different in 2019/20. Solskjaer has already penciled Marcus Rashford as his starting striker, but Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez all remain on the squad. Opportunities for Lukaku were going to be slim at best. And considering how unhappy he was, the expectations of him performing at a high level were not very promising, either.
So, what’s the point of keeping an unhappy, expensive player on the squad if you can make profit out of him? That’s exactly what Manchester United did. Getting a player in return would have been a better scenario, sure. But Manchester United recovered most of the money they spent on Lukaku two years ago. That’s a win for future transfer windows considering how crazy tends to behave.
All things considered, letting Lukaku leave was the best choice for everybody. Manchester United won’t have him unhappy sitting on the bench, Inter Milan got the player they wanted, and Lukaku will play where he wanted. Undoubtedly, a win-win scenario.
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