Lukaku: 'A lot of bull**it has been published about me'

This European summer was a hot one, but for Romelu Lukaku it was as hot as hell. The Chelsea striker came back from an (un)successful loan at Inter and immediately started to look where else to go. Inter, Juventus and Al Hillal were after him, and he ended up in Roma, while Chelsea was desperately trying to sell him but failed. The Italian media wrote that he was on the verge of signing for great rivals Juventus, the Inter fans turned against him, but according to him, most of that is not true.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of Belgium’s game with Austria, Lukaku talked about all those rumors, his failed transfer to Saudi Arabia, and his Belgium’s teammate Thibaut Courtois.

"Was I ever afraid that things wouldn't work out this summer? No, enough people know what qualities I have. There are just a lot of outsiders who liked to speak on my behalf. A lot of bullshit has been published. Most of the people in the room know me. You know that I don't like to beat around the bush. I will speak in time, but if I really said how it all went last summer, everyone would be shocked. What was the biggest nonsense I read? That I was supposedly told I was going to a certain club, but it didn't make any sense" said Lukaku.

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The Roma striker admitted he had a difficult season and kept thing to himself.

“There were moments when I could explode. Five years ago I might have done that too, but now I didn't waste any energy on it. Why not? It was a difficult season that I had just had, with many injuries, a dramatic World Cup and despite many goals in the competition I had to start all cup or Champions League matches on the bench. You understand that that wasn't the easiest period. Especially the Champions League final? I didn't feel good the first few days afterward. Because of the loss and the missed opportunities. I will explain it later, but my thoughts were not there at that moment" he explained.

The Saudis are to blame for Lukaku's transfer failure

He ended up in Roma on a loan, where he is the same old Lukaku like he was in his first term in Inter, when Antonio Conte was the coach.

"I immediately felt good at Roma from the negotiations. I must also thank Radja Nainggolan for the contact with the club. He informed me very well about AS Roma and the fans. Of course, I also had many conversations with José Mourinho before I signed” he said.

Before coming to Roma, he had a very hefty offer from Saudi Arabia, but to the dismay of Chelsea, he refused, and now gave an explanation why.

"I was much honored that they thought of me. Al-Hilal is one of the biggest clubs there. But at the end of the conversations I had the feeling... Hmmm. I understand that players go there - I think the Saudi league will be one of the biggest. Only I made a personal choice" said Roma’s striker.

Since he already opened up on this press conference, it was a good opportunity to find out what happened in June, when Real’s Thibaut Courtois left the national team dissatisfied when Lukaku, rather than him, was given the captain's armband against Austria.

"I would like to appeal to all media not to keep reporting about Courtois. Let him first focus on his rehabilitation and we on qualifying for the European Championship. We must put the situation to rest now. If Thibaut were to return, he will be of great value to his team again. But he will also have to speak to the players first. There are some who have some questions. But if that has to be done, that will happen. And it will be done. also happen indoors” said Lukaku.