Ole wanted me to remain at Old Trafford – Lukaku

Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed that Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted him to remain at Old Trafford.

The Belgium international joined Inter a few days before the start of the 2019/20 season as he pushed for a transfer from the Red Devils.

In an interview with Arsenal legend Ian Wright on YouTube, Lukaku admitted that he did not have the energy to stay with United.

“One bad year can happen to anybody in their career ... You know what happened behind the scenes, it was just done. For me it was done,” he said, as quoted by Sky Sports.

“It was a difficult situation, where I had to make a decision about where I [wanted] to go; somewhere where I could learn other aspects of my game and work with somebody who wanted me as well.

“Ole wanted me to stay, but I told him that I was done. I didn’t have the energy. All credit to him because he’s been a man and he helped me make the move.”

The 26-year-old says he harbours no hatred for any of the managers and clubs he played for in England, and believes that Solskjaer is doing things the right way to get United back to the top.

“They’re going the right way because they’re bringing in the right players,” Lukaku said.

“Ole is doing a good job and the results are going [to show]. I’m wishing them nothing but the best.

“It’s a club that gave me a platform that I’ve never seen in my life, so for me to be disrespectful about Manchester United or any other club I played for in England [would be] a bit childish.

“I think I went past that stage of talking back to people.”

Lukaku admitted that he could have easily joined Juventus instead of Inter Milan, but his heart was set on following the footsteps of his idols – Adriano and Ronaldo.

“It was close. It was really close, but my mind was always set on Inter … and the manager,” Lukaku said.

“When I was a kid, Inter was my team in Italy. I looked up to Adriano and Ronaldo.

“So when Inter came, with club manager Antonio Conte, who wanted me at Chelsea and when he was at Juve as well, I was like now is the time to go over there and see what it’s like. But [I’ll] just keep my head down and work.” – Sport24

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