ROMELU LUKAKU HAS revealed that he decided to switch agents to Mino Raiola after he was insulted by the Italian.
Lukaku, who joined Everton on a permanent deal from Chelsea in 2014, had been represented by Christophe Henrotay until he switched representatives in April.
And the Belgian striker admits that he was given some harsh home truths from Raiola, who also represents Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Mario Balotelli.
“Let me tell you something about Mino Raiola,” Lukaku told the Daily Express.
“I signed here and when I was not in a good moment, he was the one who said the reality. He said stuff to me that no one would say to me. Mean things about me like, ‘You play like a woman. You play like a girl who has never played the game sometimes.’
“Then he would take examples of Zlatan and Bergkamp and all those players: ‘Oh, you want to aim for the top? Well you are not playing like a top player.’
“He said stuff that really hurt me and I have my pride. He told me at the end of the day it is all about goals.
“He said: ‘Goals, goals, goals, goals. If you are a striker, you need to score goals and you need to be professional and do this and that.’
“What I am doing now, it is credit to him also. He picked my brain mentally because I was at a very low place at the time.
“When I am not doing well the phone is ringing and sometimes I don’t want to hear it. But I am 22 now and I have to face the reality.
“He has a very good relationship with the manager as well. In pre-season, the manager, Mino and me had a conversation.
“I had to hear a few things about me in training and what I had to do and from then on it was like unleashing the beast: Go onto the pitch and show us what you can do.”
22?
Good career ahead of him this guy.
I like lukaku. Admire how he decided (still young) to leave Chelsea and go get game time first with west brom then Everton rather to accept sitting on a bench with a big club and just collect his wages. Took guts and if he keeps progressing could easily go on to be one of the best strikers around. Saying all that hopefully he has a flop at the euro’s though against us!! ;-)
Everton are a pretty big club, he hardly exactly went down to a nothing club. If he just sat at Chelsea without playing at such a young age he wouldn’t have a career anymore
Everton are a big club
I agree mate. I’m not esting Everton are a small or insignificant club by any means. I myself am a Celtic supporter but above all I love the sport itself and do love watching all games and am myself a big fan of Martinez and admire what he’s doing at Everton. I just think alot more ”gifted” youngsters should follow his approach. Anywho all the best to him with the exception of the upcoming summer. :-)
*Saying
Just a matter of time before he moves to a big club