ROMELU LUKAKU INTERVIEW WITH SKY SPORTS ITALIA
On his role at Chelsea:
'I'm in a moment in which I believe the manager can make me play more but I respect his choices. I just have to keep working and wait for my moment.
'Tuchel and I are trying to find a tactical system where we can "find" each other - a way to help the team because the situation [the Premier League table] is a bit complicated. He made his choice - I keep working, at a certain point I'll speak with Tuchel and we will see the situation.'
On his time at Inter:
'I’m always thinking about Milano, Milano, Milano... Inter fans are the best in the world. I love the city and the best moment of my career was at Inter. I am in love with Italy - I have Inter in my heart.
'Why was the honeymoon with Inter over? I've been a supporter of Chelsea since I was a kid, it's my favorite team. Then I went to Chelsea at 18 and it wasn’t working - so I always had that Chelsea mission in my head.'
On turning down Manchester City:
'In the summer of 2020 I turned down an offer from Manchester City. It was a higher offer than Chelsea's one. I refused because I couldn't leave Inter after just one year - it's the club that saved my career when I was feeling bad at Manchester United.'
On why he left Inter:
'Last summer I went to talk to the Inter board and I asked for a new contract. I said: I'm 28, I wanted to plan my life in Italy with a new deal... but Inter said no. Maybe there wasn't the economic possibility. For me it was difficult to accept.
'Last summer I didn't think about going to Chelsea until they really came with an offer. Simone Inzaghi behaved very well with me.
Asked if he would have stayed if offered a new deal: 'Yes (nods twice)'
'If there had been the offer of a new contract from Inter last summer as I wanted... we would not be doing this interview now here from London, but quietly from Milan.'
On former team-mate Lautaro Martinez:
'I miss Lautaro Martinez, I could die on the pitch for him since day one I met him.
'Lautaro Martinez coming here with me at Chelsea in the future? No... Lautaro, you can stay in Milan, I'll be back there (laughs).'
On following Inter now as a fan:
'I always watch Inter games, always, always, always, always, always, always.
'I look at them all, when Inter touch you it's something different.
'If Juventus or AC Milan will call me in the future? Never, never. Again: never. It's never gonna happen. Juventus wanted me before Inter, but when Conte joined Inter it was my priority to join them. In Italy there's only Inter for me.'
On former boss Antonio Conte:
'I spoke to Antonio Conte also on personal life. Having him as an opponent will be a challenge, I never won against him!
'When he left Inter, it hurt me. But I would have stayed at Inter even without him, the problem was the new contract I asked.'
