Special We’re relationship: re-United
Lukaku buries the hatchet with Mourinho
LONDON: Romelu Lukaku has resolved any bad blood between him and Jose Mourinho ahead of his Manchester United move.
And the £75mil (RM416mil) striker has got a text from the Old Trafford boss to prove he wants a new “special” relationship. Lukaku was shattered when the Special One sold him to Everton for £28mil (RM155mil) in 2014 while he was his boss at Stamford Bridge.
Belgian hitman Lukaku, now 24, had infuriated Mourinho with a poor penalty miss in the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Bayern Munich.
But as he is now set to become the fifth-costliest player ever, the pair have reconciled their differences.
On Saturday, United confirmed on Twitter they had agreed a fee with the Goodison Park outfit for Lukaku.
And last week Mourinho sent his target a text, saying he was looking forward to working with him again. Sorting out their relationship was key to the move – and Lukaku has stressed he can succeed alongside Mourinho or anybody else.
“After leaving Chelsea, I made an analysis of myself to see what could be better. But now I can fit under any trainer and at any club.”
Chelsea made a last-ditch attempt to hijack United’s move with a matching offer on Friday. But the Premier League champions – unlike United – refused to pay the £12mil (RM66mil) costs for agent Mino Raiola.
Now Lukaku will be getting a £200,000 (RM1mil)-per-week sal- ary and earn performance-based extra benefits.
Every Old Trafford first-teamer gets a 30% bonus for playing in the Champions League.
Lukaku, currently on holiday in Los Angeles with prospective team-mate Paul Pogba, is set to greet his new team this week with the club flying on Saturday on their United States tour.
Lukaku is also good pals with United’s world-record signing Pogba – and is represented by the same agent, Raiola. And he says the Frenchman was a huge factor in joining.
Lukaku said: “I’ve been talking to (Pogba) for about seven or eight years. And now he’s living in Manchester.
“I live in Manchester. He lives like down the road from where I live, so we’re together on a daily basis.
“He was explaining to me how it went at the club, and it triggered something in my head. When the opportunity came, I didn’t have to think twice. I’m really excited.” — The Sun, London
After leaving Chelsea, I made an analysis of myself to see what could be better. But now I can fit under any trainer and at any club.
Romelu Lukaku