Cameron Smith
Romelu Lukaku, Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea
© IMAGO
Napoli forward Romelu Lukaku has opened up on his disastrous second spell at Chelsea following his permanent departure last summer.
The Belgium international sealed a €113 million return to Stamford Bridge back in 2021, seven years after leaving the club, but he endured a torrid time in west London and he quickly pushed for an exit.
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Just months after his move back to Chelsea, Lukaku told Sky Italia that he was “not happy” at the club, while he also questioned Thomas Tuchel’s tactics after falling out of favour under the German manager.
Lukaku was subsequently loaned back to Inter Milan in 2022, before a second loan spell away from Chelsea followed during the 2023-24 campaign - this time at AS Roma.
He finally secured a permanent transfer away from west London last August, with Napoli reaching an agreement to sign him for a fee of €30m.
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Romelu Lukaku joined Napoli last summer
© IMAGO - Romelu Lukaku joined Napoli last summer
Lukaku has scored nine goals in 27 appearances for Antonio Conte’s side so far this season and he has now lifted the lid on his permanent Chelsea departure last summer.
What has Romelu Lukaku said?
“I wasn’t alone at Chelsea, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and [Hakim] Ziyech were also out of the project,” Lukaku told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport" href="https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/napoli/2025/03/06-138970366/lukaku_intervista_esclusiva_al_corriere_dello_sport_odiavo_giocare_spalle_alla_porta_poi_arrivato_conte" target="_blank">Corriere dello Sport.
“They made us change in the youth locker room. It’s business, the club tells you it doesn’t want you anymore and often also where you’ll end up.
“But if you want to leave, even for serious reasons, you don’t have the option. They drag it out until the last moment, they wear you down."
Lukaku added: “Clubs have relationships with the media, and it doesn’t take much to put a player in a difficult position or create the wrong image.
“Believe me, I’ve seen things I never thought I would. One day, I’d like to explain all of this to younger players, who is really working for them and who is working against them.”