In a major transfer development, AS Roma announced the acquisition of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal. The official confirmation came on Thursday, August 31, adding more firepower to Roma's offensive lineup. Lukaku, who had spent the previous season on loan at Inter Milan, is all set for his second stint in Serie A, the top-tier Italian football league. During his time with Inter, the 30-year-old forward played in 17 matches, making an additional six appearances as a substitute. He accumulated 19 shots on target out of 39 total shots, netting nine goals in the process.
Lukaku's tenure at Chelsea was far from smooth sailing. Having rejoined Chelsea in the summer of 2021 with a £97.5 million transfer from Internazionale, he found it challenging to adapt to coach Thomas Tuchel's tactical system. "His relationship with Tuchel was uneasy," and he publicly expressed dissatisfaction with his position at the club in an unauthorized interview, drawing backlash from Chelsea's management and its fanbase. His on-field performance also didn't help, contributing only 10 goals across all competitions.
However, AS Roma offers a fresh start and a reunion with head coach Jose Mourinho, under whom Lukaku had previously played at Manchester United.
"The welcome I've received from this club and its fans has excited me and given me even more motivation to give my all for my new team," Lukaku said in a statement on Roma's official website. "As an opponent, I felt the atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico, and felt the warmth of the Romanisti. It's nice to know I'm a part of it today. I recently got the opportunity to speak with the owners, and I was impressed by their ambition. Now we must work, be humble, and grow game by game. For my part, I can't wait to be available to my teammates both on and off the pitch."
Lukaku will don the No. 90 jersey as he embarks on this new chapter with AS Roma. The move is significant for both the player and the club, as Roma aims to strengthen its attacking options, while Lukaku seeks to regain his form and reputation.
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