When Romelu Lukaku arrived at Manchester United, he did so under the weight of enormous expectations. Signed for a significant fee after a stellar spell at Everton, the Belgian forward was hailed as the solution to United’s long-standing issues in front of goal. His goalscoring record spoke for itself, and his physical presence and finishing ability seemed tailor-made for Premier League dominance.
But from the start, something felt off. There appeared to be a fundamental disconnect between the team’s style of play and Lukaku’s core strengths. Rather than being the focal point of a system built to amplify his qualities, Lukaku often found himself isolated, feeding off scraps or miscast in roles that didn’t suit his natural game. Although far from a complete failure—his goal tally was respectable, his time at Old Trafford ultimately fell short of expectations. Within two seasons, he was gone, his departure sparking debate that lingers to this day.
Recently, that conversation was reignited by Rio Ferdinand, who on his Youtube channel via Metro openly criticised the club’s decision to let Lukaku leave. In Ferdinand’s view, United acted too hastily, failing to properly harness the striker’s capabilities. He argued that the club focused too heavily on Lukaku’s limitations, rather than making tactical adjustments to highlight his strengths.
Rio Ferdinand regrets Manchester United selling Romelu Lukaku.
Why does Rio Ferdinand believe Manchester United made a mistake by letting go of Romelu Lukaku, despite his struggles at Old Trafford?
“I need to give a shoutout to a man called Romelu Lukaku. He’s another player who’s left Manchester United [and thrived]. He’s won Serie A again and scored on the night they won it. I look at Lukaku and the problem, especially in England, has been everyone looks at what he can’t do or what he’s not so good at. Just because he’s big and quick people expect him to play in a certain way. His game is about running onto things and running at people. Another mistake I think Man United made was we didn’t play to his strengths and we got rid of him too quick probably. When you don’t play to his strengths he’s not going to be able to produce his best work. But he’s shown what quality he has, his goal record over the years really stacks up.”
At the time of Lukaku’s tenure, Manchester United were in the midst of deep institutional and sporting instability. Frequent managerial changes, undefined tactical blueprints, and a lack of strategic continuity created a volatile backdrop. It’s no coincidence that in such conditions, attackers struggled to flourish. Expecting a striker to deliver elite-level performances while the team around him lacks clarity is a gamble, and Lukaku may well have been one of its casualties.
In retrospect, his failure to reach expected heights at Old Trafford feels less like personal underperformance and more like a symptom of systemic dysfunction. His departure, rather than closing the chapter, continues to invite reflection on whether United truly failed to build around him, or ever gave him a real chance to succeed.
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However, there is also a more critical perspective. While Manchester United failed to build a system that suited Romelu Lukaku’s strengths, the striker himself did little to consistently impose his presence in big matches. Too often, he faded against top opposition, and his technical limitations, particularly in tight spaces and against well-organised defences, left him exposed. It’s fair to argue that the Premier League’s high tempo and tactical intensity were not the most fertile ground for his specific skill set.
In contrast, Serie A’s slower rhythm and greater emphasis on positional play have allowed Lukaku the space and time to make more decisive contributions. There, he has thrived, suggesting that his struggles at Old Trafford were as much about fit as they were about form. So, while United’s decision to part ways may have seemed hasty to some, it was not entirely without justification. It was, ultimately, a high-stakes gamble, and one that simply didn’t pay off.
Football rarely offers second chances at the same club, and in this case, Lukaku found his revival elsewhere. His story continued, marked by important goals and major titles, while Manchester United remain in search of a true No. 9, a striker who fits the system, the culture, and the weight of expectation.