Three reasons Ole was right to sell Lukaku
LECCE, Cagliari, Sassuolo, Parma, Brescia, Bologna, Torino, Slavia Prague, Genoa, Udinese, Ludogorets, Sampdoria and Getafe.
Romelu Lukaku has scored 31 goals this season, yet 24 of them came against those teams, and two more against each of AC Milan and Napoli, two hugely under-performing Italian teams in Serie A in the past season.
That leaves three goals, scored against Barcelona, Roma and Bayer Leverkusen this term.
The former United striker is receiving widespread plaudits for his debut campaign at Inter Milan and stands on the brink of an astonishing reunion with the Reds in the Europa League final.
But would Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reverse his decision to sell Lukaku last summer, given the chance?
The Belgian’s Inter stats show little has changed in his style and form, with accusations of Lukaku the ‘flat track bully’ lingering on.
New Reds No.9 Anthony Martial may have scored fewer goals (albeit from fewer appearances) this season but the total number of strikes from United’s new front three - which has emerged following the departures of Lukaku and Alexis
Sanchez to Inter - gives a clue to Solskjaer’s answer.
Between them, Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood have replaced Lukaku, all having stints in the centre-forward position, though it’s the Frenchman who has made it his own.
They total 61 goals in all competitions between them, almost double Lukaku the ‘traditional No.9’ this season, but more importantly more than four times Lukaku’s United tally for last season (15).
Each of the three are having their best ever seasons and the ceiling is high for all of their futures, aged 24, 22 and 18 respectively.
Lukaku is 27 and has fewer years remaining at his best, with strikers typically peaking at 26, according to statistics.
The fact that Lukaku only managed 15 goals for United last season and his increased goal tally against the lesser lights of Italian football is instructive.
He failed to score in six games against fellow Serie A top-four sides this season – Juventus, Atalanta and Lazio – while United have shone in big games thanks to their lightning fast front line.
There is no doubt selling Lukaku to a big European rival was a risk, though allowing Ashley Young and Alexis Sanchez to head the same way were easier calls.
The fact all three have thrived in Antonio Conte’s side probably says more about the standard in Serie A, because there weren’t too many at Old Trafford clamouring for them to stay.
Dimitar Berbatov is among those who admire Lukaku as a player and sent United a warning ahead of the potential Europa League final meeting between the two teams. “Lukaku took a lot of criticism in Manchester, and he was right to leave. Look at him now, he has been fantastic for Inter,” said the former United striker.
“I always said I liked him as a player, that if he got chances he would score goals.
There is no doubt selling Lukaku to a big European rival was a risk for Solskjaer Dominic Booth
“He’s very quick, and very strong, and his goal on Monday [versus Leverkusen] was spectacular. He’s the main danger for whoever they play against.
“Inter also have Alexis Sanchez and Ashley Young, who will know United very well. If they play United in the final, these players will want revenge, to show United that they were wrong to let them go.”
Revenge is one thing, but Solskjaer is more about the method and his Old Trafford project looks far more promising without Lukaku, Sanchez and Young.
In their stead, Greenwood, Martial and Rashford have thrived, while another starlet from the academy in Brandon Williams has effectively replaced Young as a left-back option.
The Norwegian speaks regularly about his long-term ambitions but he would be lying if he said winning the Europa League doesn’t matter. If United can get beyond Sevilla tomorrow and into the final, it’s likely that some familiar faces will be waiting for them. It will matter a whole lot more then.
It would be the ultimate opportunity for Solskjaer to inspire his current United troops and prove he was right all along, especially about Lukaku.