CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE Mourinho claims that he sold Romelu Lukaku to Everton because the Belgian striker did not have the stomach to fight for a place at Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku joined Everton in a club-record £28 million (€35.4m) transfer yesterday, having scored 16 goals in 33 appearances while on loan at Goodison Park last season.
The 21-year-old faced competition from new signing Diego Costa and returning club great Didier Drogba at Chelsea, and Mourinho felt that he did not possess the drive to win a first-team place.
“Romelu was always clear that in his mentality and his approach he was not highly motivated to come to a competitive situation at Chelsea,” Mourinho said at yesterday’s press conference.
“He wanted to play for Chelsea, but clearly only as first-choice striker. And at a club of our dimension, it’s very difficult to promise a player that status.
“That reduced immediately his desire to come to us. After that, Everton came with an important offer and because we want to be inside (UEFA’s) Financial Fair Play rules, you have to analyse these situations.”
Lukaku was dubbed the heir apparent to Drogba when he joined Chelsea from Anderlecht in 2011, but he made only 15 appearances during his three years with the west London club.
The Belgium international, who played at the World Cup, revealed that he had left Chelsea without speaking to Mourinho.
“I spoke with my agent and then from that moment on I left it up to him as I was on holiday,” said Lukaku, who has signed a five-year contract with Everton. “I made my decision and then didn’t speak too much about it.”
Asked if he had spoken to Mourinho immediately prior to leaving, Lukaku replied: “No, I think he was busy with the game (Chelsea’s friendly against Vitesse Arnhem).”
’10 years on the bench’
Despite failing to make the grade at Chelsea, Lukaku said that he had no regrets about his time at the club.
“Chelsea is a big club and sometimes it is difficult for young players to come through,” he said.
“I want to have a good career and I didn’t want to spend 10 years on the bench. I wanted to make the best out of every year. This (Everton) is a club with a lot of ambition and it’s the right place to be. You don’t have to have regrets in football. Choices have to be made.”
Everton manager Roberto Martinez described Lukaku’s arrival as “a very significant day in the history of our football club” and said the Belgian was “worth every single penny”.
Fair play to him for wanting to play. Too often players are all too happy to just sit on the bench, collect a nice paycheck, and watch their careers wither away at big clubs.
Not have the stomach to compete for a place? Bit of a parting blow. Mourinho never gave Lukaku a chance which was idiotic. He was right to want out with Mourinho buying the likes of Eto’o and Drogba to overleap him in the pecking order. He shone at Everton anyway. Great deal from their point of view seeing as they sold Fellaini for same money.
He’s only 21 and has scored 65 goals in his career to date, when Messi was the same age he had 42, Neymar had 54 and Suarez had 28. Not saying he’ll be better than any of these guys, just the potential is clearly there!
Drogba was still playing semi-professional football at this point in his career, so I just don’t understand why they let this guy go? He could have gone anywhere in Europe from Standard Liege! Never given a fair crack at Chelsea!
Anderlecht
Sorry Kieran, he was at Anderlecht of course, makes all my fancy numbers above look nowhere near as effective now if I can’t remember who he used to play for!!
As an Everton fan I’m over the moon with him signing up. He has the potential to be a great player and with the like of juve and Madrid sniffing around Martinez has done a nice job in getting him. Have lost a lot of respect for Jose in his mad mouthing of lukakau, what more did the kid have to do to show him what he could do 30 odd goals in 2 seasons not bad for guy who has just turned 21. And then splashes 35 mill on Costa who had one good season and a shocking world cup. And then to add insult to injury he brings back drogba whos only going to come off the bench for a big cheer every now and again. Wise up jose. You’ve just lost a star for the future. Hope he bangs in few against them this season
Sell lukaku and bring back an ancient drogba.. great management skills jose