Belgium boss Roberto Martinez says Romelu Lukaku just wants to feel ‘important’ with doubts over whether the struggling striker will remain at Chelsea as Inter Milan eye up a move for their former star
- Romelu Lukaku endured a frustrating season at Chelsea after his £98m move
- The Belgian has been heavily linked with a return back to former side Inter Milan
- Roberto Martinez believes whatever decision Lukaku makes will be the right one
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez says Romelu Lukaku just wants to feel ‘important’ to a team, with doubts surrounding his future at Chelsea.
The 29-year-old’s return to Stamford Bridge has not gone as planned since his £98million move from Inter Milan last summer.
There has been heavy speculation that Lukaku could return to the Serie A side on either a permanent transfer or a season-long loan.
Romelu Lukaku’s Chelsea future is at doubt after a tough season since his £98million move
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez says Lukaku just wants to feel ‘important’ at a club
Martinez, who also previously managed Lukaku at Everton, said that he is sure Lukaku will make the right decision this summer.
He told reporters ahead of Saturday’s Nations League clash with Wales: ‘He wants to be important and enjoy his football. I’m sure the decision in the summer will be the right one.
‘In Belgium we are quite relaxed with Romelu’s situation. I know it is a big topic, but at the moment he is trying to recover from the injury and that’s the only thing he has in his mind.
Lukaku was the star at Inter Milan, helping them towards the Serie A title in the 2020-21 season
‘If he stays at Chelsea it will be for the right reasons. If he’s moving away it will be because everyone agrees to it.
‘Romelu is a player I know very well. I managed him at club level (at Everton) at a very young age.
‘He was 19 and had a very different position than he has now. Now he’s a player who is very mature and very clear what he wants.’
Lukaku scored just eight Premier League goals for Chelsea in 26 appearances, having netter 24 times for Inter Milan in their Serie A title winning campaign in 2020-21.
Brought in to be the main man at Chelsea, he often struggled to get into the starting line-up in the second-half of the season, with Thomas…