Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed that he was not enthusiastic about his high-profile transfer to Manchester United in 2017, admitting that his initial desire was to return to Chelsea.
At the time, United paid a reported £75 million to secure Lukaku from Everton, but the move wasn’t exactly what the striker had in mind.
In a candid interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Lukaku disclosed that he had already set his heart on joining Chelsea before a surprise phone call changed everything.
“I had already told everyone: I’m going to Chelsea,” Lukaku stated.
“But suddenly Mourinho called me to say that Manchester United had made an offer.”
The call from Jose Mourinho, then United’s manager, prompted a swift change in the transfer direction.
“I came back from vacation and suddenly there was an agreement with Everton,” he recalled.
Despite the deal being sealed, he admitted he was not in favor of the move.
“I said to Mino [Raiola, after the move]: ‘I don’t want this,’ and then I decided now I’m doing everything myself.”
Lukaku went on to play two seasons at Old Trafford, scoring 42 goals in 96 appearances, but his time at the club was often marked by inconsistency and scrutiny.
His comments now offer a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes tension surrounding one of the Premier League’s biggest transfers at the time — and a reminder that even major moves don’t always reflect a player’s true wishes.
