It feels like Chelsea and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has been around forever, but he’s still only 30 years old.
When he initially signed for Chelsea as a teenager, he was thought of as Didier Drogba’s natural heir. In his intervening career, he’s struggled to establish anything close to that kind of legacy.
In fact, Romelu Lukaku has been something of a journeyman, albeit top-tier journeyman.
Chelsea, Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan – Romelu Lukaku has played for some massive teams. However, it was only at Inter Milan where he ever truly felt at home.
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In 2020-2021, he scored 24 goals and made 11 assists on the way towards winning the Serie A title. He was beloved by the Inter fans, but the club’s financial situation meant they had to sell him.
He rejoined Chelsea the following season for around £97 million in a move that was billed as the return of the prodigal son. A chance for Lukaku to fulfill his dream of being Chelsea’s center forward a decade after he first joined them.
At the time, the consensus was Lukaku would propel the then Champions League holders to compete with Manchester City for the Premier League. All that sentiment quickly faded away as he struggled to integrate into Thomas Tuchel’s team.
An inflammatory interview in December led to him falling out with the German coach. After an underwhelming season, he was loaned back to Inter Milan.
Lukaku is a brilliant but awkward player. His stature means he gets played at center forward when he’s probably better on the wing. There have also been suggestions he struggles to stay fit. However, his somewhat flaky career isn’t entirely his or his coaches’ fault.
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He played for Manchester United and Chelsea at turbulent times for both teams. He had to leave Inter after winning his first ever league title. Now, he is refusing to report to Chelsea training in an effort to force a permanent move back to Inter. After two demoralising Stamford Bridge spells, you can’t blame him for that.
He could play in Italy well into his late 30s, so it’s not too late for Lukaku to build a legacy. He needs to find his home soon, though, or else his generational talent will go to waste.
