Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed that he asked manager Jose Mourinho for a loan-move away from the club.
Many fans were shocked when Mourinho decided to loan-out the Belgium striker once again, especially after his impressive season for West Bromwich Albion last year, but the 20-year-old has now revealed that he actually asked for the move.
Now at Everton, Lukaku has already scored three goals in two appearances and despite being labelled as the new Didier Drogba, he knew that first-team opportunities were going to be limited at Stamford Bridge.
“I did not know if I would be playing for Chelsea so I asked the manager to let me leave. We spoke and I told him,” Lukaku told the Daily Telegraph.
“It’s unfair to criticise Mourinho for letting me go because it was my decision.
“He knows what he is doing. He has won so many titles and I have too much respect for him to wish anything but the best.
“But there comes a point where you must think about yourself to show everyone that you can shine and be one of the best strikers in the league.
“I could have stayed and fought, but it was not about the competition. When you are a 20-year-old you need minutes. I lost my place in the national team because I did not play for a year with Chelsea.
“I want that position back. I want to be in a top team and play. You only get better if you play so the best thing was to leave.
“He’d called me into his office 10 days before the end of the window. I did not want to tell him what I wanted to do at that point, but he was very open and direct.
“I always wanted to work under him and even the time in pre-season he taught me lots I’m grateful for but I had to make a choice.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
