Rom’s ‘brain had gone’ ahead of his move to Reds
EVERTON chief Farhad Moshiri claims Romelu Lukaku’s ‘brain had gone’ ahead of his summer move to United.
The club’s major shareholder revealed how the Belgian’s much-publicised holiday in Los Angeles with Paul Pogba played a part in his £75m move to Old Trafford.
Everton were desperate to keep hold of Lukaku, despite interest from United and Chelsea - but Moshiri says the striker refused to return from America, where he eventually met up with Jose Mourinho and his new team-mates on their pre-season.
“I got close to Rom,” Moshiri told Everton’s AGM on Tuesday night. “I like the boy, he’s a good boy, and I used all my charm to keep him and I flatly failed. Ultimately we lost money. To buy Rom now would be £120m.
“The issue was his brain had gone. He was in LA and he wouldn’t come back.”
Lukaku, meanwhile is seeking legal advice after Moshiri claimed a ‘voodoo’ was behind his decision to leave Goodison Park.
“We offered him a better deal than Chelsea and his agent came to Finch Farm to sign the contract,” Moshiri added. “Robert (Elstone, chief executive) was there, everything was in place, there were a few reporters outside, then in the meeting Rom called his mother. He said there was a pilgrimage in Africa or somewhere and he had a voodoo and he got the message that he needs to go to Chelsea.”
A representative for Lukaku told the BBC: “Romelu’s decision had nothing to do with voodoo. He distances himself from these beliefs and this statement and will now see what judicial steps can be taken in relation to them.”