Romelu Lukaku spent just two years at Manchester United before signing for Inter Milan.
Manchester United are still searching for a reliable goalscorer in the transfer market in 2025 and it has been eight years since Romelu Lukaku joined from Everton.
The Belgian signed for United in a £75 million transfer, scoring 42 goals in 96 appearances before both parties were in agreement that it would be best to part ways.
Lukaku was an instant hit at Old Trafford, bagging 11 goals in his first 10 outings for the club, but would score a more modest 31 times in his remaining 86 appearances as a United player.
It became apparent that Lukaku did not suit United when he wasn’t netting with regularity. Without goals, it became difficult to defend the Belgium international and his poor first touch was proving problematic.
Throughout his entire United career, Lukaku would score once against one of the other top-six clubs. That was the opener in a 2-1 win over his former club Chelsea in February 2018.
Now, as a 32-year-old, Lukaku is embarking on a new season after winning the Serie A title with Napoli – in a team consisting of Scott McTominay who was part of the United academy during the Belgian’s time at Old Trafford.
Romelu Lukaku didn’t want Man Utd transfer
Lukaku was heavily linked with a return to Chelsea before he signed for United.
Speaking about the transfer eight years on, Lukaku reflects on how his former agent Mino Raiola engineered the move to United when he had already told people that his mind was set on Chelsea.
That suggests Lukaku didn’t want a move to United even though Jose Mourinho was manager at the time, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that his spell eventually turned sour.
“I had already told everyone: I’m going to Chelsea,” Lukaku told Koolcast Sport, as relayed by Het Nieuwsblad.
“But suddenly Mourinho called me to say that Manchester United had made an offer. I came back from vacation and suddenly there was an agreement with Everton.
“I said to Mino: ‘I don’t want this’, and then I decided now I’m doing everything myself.”
Lukaku stats last season
As one of the senior players in Napoli’s squad, Lukaku played a key role in their title triumph.
The former United striker netted 14 times in 36 appearances, which is a better return than Rasmus Hojlund managed at United last season.
| Games | Goals | Assists |
| 38 | 14 | 11 |
Lukaku will be hoping to make the same number of appearances under Antonio Conte when Napoli try to defend their title this season.
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