Chelsea's club-record signing Romelu Lukaku has posted a message that could be interpreted as a jibe at senior Chelsea figures, including Thomas Tuchel and Todd Boehly, as the striker looks forward to a potential redemption season with Inter Milan in 2022/23.
He endured a nightmare first year on his return to west London. The 29-year-old, despite ending up as Chelsea's top goalscorer in all competitions last season, only managed to get a mere eight goals in 26 appearances in the League. Not only did he suffer from various injury problems during his second short-term stint in SW6, but he himself had admitted that he was annoyed with manager Tuchel back at the start of January that he wasn't being optimised to his best abilities within the system.
Since that infamous Sky Italy interview, the former Blues number 9 who did play a significant role in the FIFA Club World Cup victory, had way back with supporters finding it hard to support a player who no longer wanted to be at the club after admitting his mistake. This, therefore, culminated in new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake taking responsibility for a huge mistake of the Roman Abramovich era and cutting losses with a mere loan fee accumulated from Inter in the early parts of this summer transfer window.
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Now, all attention has turned to the future without Lukaku, in spite of the fact that he is expected to return to the English capital next season if Internazionale does not find significant funds to take him permanently in the 2023 summer transfer window.
In the meantime, the arrivals of Raheem Sterling and the potential coup of someone with the calibre of Cristiano Ronaldo could help Tuchel in his quest to close the gap to Man City and Liverpool next season. A player in whom the relationship was strained before Boehly held talks with someone who has become another victim of the Chelsea number 9 curse.
As it has been apparent with Lukaku over the years, he does love to talk. He seems to have rattled a few Chelsea supporters on social media with his latest message, which could be interpreted as a jibe at Tuchel but maybe even Boehly too and other figures in west London.
He posted on his Instagram account @romelulukaku: 'I'ma probably show you I'm solid first and if the energy ain't right I'ma show you how easy it is to cut ties, no more tries Gone…'
A message teammate Hakim Ziyech liked. Could he also be on his way out amid AC Milan talk? Of course, this message could be something completely external to Chelsea FC, but with how sour his return turned out to be, anything is possible with what the 29-year-old says nowadays.
Chelsea fans- What do you think Romelu Lukaku's message means? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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