LUK WHO’S SCORING
Wow factor is back now
ROMELU LUKAKU proved his class with the goals that helped sweep Inter Milan into the Europa League final.
After Manchester United went out to Sevilla, missing a multitude of chances, their fans could have been forgiven for rueing the decision to sell Lukaku last summer. His exit, however, allowed boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to play a front three of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, whose combined 62-goal haul saw them outscore Liverpool’s celebrated title-winning attack of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
For United and for Lukaku, the Belgium striker’s £74million switch to Inter was the right move. With 33 goals this season, he is only nine short of the total he managed in two seasons at Old Trafford.
A previously undiagnosed digestion problem, which led to him being overweight, has seen him shed 10lb this term.
“He looks fit and lean,” said former Red Devils’ midfielder Paul Ince after Lukaku scored twice in Inter’s 5-0 semi-final win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Monday night.
“At United he didn’t look like he could get around the park – here he’s just running past people.
“I was also fitter when I was at Inter, whether it’s the climate, the food. He looks like a different animal. We know he can finish but, wow, I bet they wish they had him now.”
Another former United midfielder, BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves, said of Lukaku: “He played like the ideal centre-forward.
“I don’t think we’ve ever questioned his finishing but at 27 he looks like he’s at the perfect age.
“It shows you have to find the right fit for you. For whatever reason it wasn’t there at United.”
Although United’s defeat robbed Lukaku of the chance to face his former club in Friday’s final, he has no doubt they are on the right path.
“Greenwood’s coming through with Martial and Rashford,” said the former Chelsea, West Brom and Everton striker.
“I expected all of that so I’m happy for them. They look really good for next season.”