On July 5th 2020, Romelu Lukaku became just the fourth Inter player to score 20 goals during his first season at the club. It is a remarkable achievement, and as the statistics from Opta confirm, he goes into the history books, following in the footsteps of Ronaldo, Stefano Nyers and Giuseppe Meazza. With eight games still left to play, he could yet add to his already impressive total.
Back in August 2019, the powerful striker swapped the Premier League for Serie A, signing a five-year contract with the Nerrazzuri. The Belgian had also been linked with a move to Juventus prior to arriving at the San Siro, and after enduring a frustrating couple of years at Old Trafford, the move signified a fresh start for the prolific frontman. He’s certainly enjoyed working under Antonio Conte this season and we take a look at how this record-breaking transfer has seemingly benefited both clubs, as well as the player himself.
How The Deal Benefited Inter
Prior to Lukaku’s arrival in northern Italy, Inter had relied heavily on irascible forward Mauro Icardi. Despite the Argentine marksman’s ability to score important goals, his time at the club had been marred by a series of controversial incidents which had infuriated large swathes of the club’s fan-base.
During the 2018-19 campaign, Icardi’s influence had dwindled, and with just eleven goals to his name, his days appeared to be numbered. The Rosario-born man had finished as the club’s top goal-scorer for five consecutive seasons and they needed to move quickly in order to replace the want-away star. He joined PSG on a one-year loan deal, and looks set to sign for the French champions on a permanent basis this summer.
Whilst Lukaku is a player who does tend to divide fans, and has already endured one or two regrettable moments since joining the club, he is far less unpredictable than his predecessor, and can be relied upon to do his job on the pitch.
His goals have helped the Serie A heavyweights keep in touch with the Bianconeri this season, and as of July 6th, they remain 40/1 outsiders for the title with Betway. Despite this, they still look highly likely to improve upon last year’s underwhelming fourth place finish.
How The Deal Benefited Manchester United
Despite plundering 28 goals in 66 appearances for the Red Devils, the former Anderlecht man rarely looked comfortable playing at Old Trafford. Although he has been quick to praise former boss Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese tactician struggled to get the best out of the muscular frontman, whilst his successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opted for a style which didn’t play to Lukaku’s strengths.
This season, the Norwegian has used Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, and Mason Greenwood to devastating effect, with the energetic trio willing to track back and run the channels. The Belgian struggled with the out-of-possession aspects of the game, and as a result, often found himself drifting away from key areas. In order to succeed, he requires adequate service on a regular basis, and tends to prefer to link up with a playmaker. This simply didn’t fit in with coaching staff’s plans.
Since Lukaku’s departure, other strikers at the club have been able to enjoy an increased number of minutes on the field, and this will surely benefit the club’s long-term future. Having gone 16 games unbeaten, the club is certainly on an upward trajectory and although it may sound counter-intuitive, the sale of the former Chelsea man has almost certainly contributed.
How The Deal Benefited The Player
Lukaku has spoken of how he has matured as a player since arriving at the San Siro, and although he recognises that some areas of his game still need to improve, he does credit Antonio Conte with helping his development. He is clearly happy playing in the current system, and although he hasn’t escaped criticism from the current gaffer, he admits that the former Italy coach knows how to get the best out of his players.
Although Serie A players are still subject to scrutiny from fans and pundits alike, his move to Italy has enabled him to step ever-so-slightly out of the spotlight. At Manchester United, his every touch was critiqued by the media, and despite one or two of his performances for the Nerrazzuri attracting condemnation, the move will surely have relieved some of the pressure that comes with pulling on the number nine shirt at Old Trafford.
Lukaku is clearly flourishing in his new role at Inter, and although he was far from an inexpensive purchase, all parties now appear to be reaping the rewards. He is likely to go from strength-to-strength working under Conte, and the pair will surely enjoy plenty more success over the next couple of seasons.
The post How Romelu Lukaku’s Transfer To Inter From Man Utd Has Seemingly Benefited All Parties appeared first on Sempreinter.
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