Romelu Lukaku: Rome has a new gladiator
Romelu Lukaku, arguably one of the most devastating finishers in European football, joined AS Roma during the summer transfer market in search of some good football. Lukaku interestingly found himself with Mourinho and his Roma ranks, who now stand 10th in the Serie A. Nevertheless, great numbers in front of the goal show Rome has its new gladiator.
The 30-year-old Belgium striker reunited with manager Jose Mourinho, who worked with him at Chelsea and Manchester United. Two familiar faces that know what to expect from each other.
Jose Mourinho's Roma has undergone many changes since last season. Big sales to the English Premier League left the squad needing reinforcements. Romelu Lukaku was in the market looking for a new team after a bittersweet ending at Inter Milan.
Lukaku, an old acquaintance of Mourinho offered his squad relative goalscoring safety, as the Belgium striker would perform really well in Serie A. Chelsea accepted the offer of a season-long loan, amounting to a $8.2m deal, according to Transfermakt.com!
Due to the dire situation at Milan, Lukaku did not hesitate to pack his bag up and head for the Italian capital. "The welcome I've received from this club and its fans has excited me and given me even more motivation to give my all for my new team", Lukaku shared upon arriving in Rome.
"I got to speak with the owners, and I was impressed by their ambition. Now we must work, be humble, and grow the game by game. Fort my part, I can't wait to be available to my teammates both on and off the pitch," added Lukaku during a press conference.
So far so good for the Belgian striker. He has scored 5 goals in 6 games so far this season in the Serie A. He has become a goal-scoring sensation and Roma fans love his determination.
Sadly, Roma has not enjoyed the strongest start to their league season. Early losses to AC Milan, Genoa, and Hellas Verona have dropped the team to 10th place in the Serie A.
Nevertheless, Mourinho channeled their frustrations into the Europa League, claiming big victories during the early group stages. Two big wins against Sheriff Tirapol and Servette placed them second right behind Slavia Praga.
Lukaku was a key figure during Roma's victories, scoring 2 goals in 2 games. Very important goals that keep the European dream alive! Lukaku needs to quench his goalscoring thirst, the question is, for how long can he keep up his goalscoring form?
Roma has a problem, and it's a serious liability to their season. Their back four have been under a lot of pressure from media and fans due to their poor performances recently. The team has conceded goals in seven games!
Romelu Lukaku was born on May 13th, 1993, in Antwerp, Belgium. His father, Roger Lukaku was a professional player in Belgium, and the apple didn't fall from the tree.
Lukaku began cementing his reputation as a feared striker from an early age, scoring many goals for Rupel Boom's youth categories. At age 11, he was already on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in Europe. He joined Anderlecht's youth squad where he launched his professional career.
The Belgium international made his debut for Anderlecht in May 2009, at just 16 years old. Lukaku became the youngest Belgian to play in the Belgian Pro League! During his stint at Anderlecht, he scored 41 goals in 98 appearances.
His move to Chelsea was a major step in his career. Although he would be loaned out to multiple clubs, he would prove a handy team asset. In 2014, he scored 18 goals for Everton in 48 appearances.
In 2017 he became the most expensive transfer in British football history at the time, for a whopping $91.5m plus another $20m of add-ons. (Transfermarkt.com)
Lukaku left Old Trafford after two complicated years. He found a new home at Inter Milan where he would join Antonio Conte in 2019. Lukaku helped Inter Milan win the Serie A title, ending Juventus' nine-year reign.
After a massive fallout with Inter Milan fans, Lukaku was once again on the road in search of a new home. The Belgian giant found a home at the Coliseum and now only has eyes for the Europa League final!