Mauricio Pochettino issues brutal verdict on Romelu Lukaku's Chelsea exit

01 September 2023 , 12:51

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Mauricio Pochettino issues brutal verdict on Romelu Lukaku's Chelsea exit

Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he's not too sad at losing Romelu Lukaku, explaining "the circumstances were clear" over the Belgian's future.

Lukaku joined Chelsea in 2021 in what was, at the time, a club record £97.5m move. After a difficult first season, though, he returned to Internazionale on loan last season.

Inter opted against making the move permanent, while Juventus also ended up passing on the 30-year-old. That opened the door for Roma, who have paid an £8m loan fee, but Pochettino - who has added the likes of Nicolas Jackson to his squad - does not appear to have been losing any sleep following the move.

Pochettino was asked whether he was sad things didn't work out, and was blunt in his response. "No because the situation was very clear and I did not create any expectation in my mind.," the Argentine said.

"What I hear through the club, that the player wanted to leave, I believe that. The circumstances were clear."

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Lukaku has spoken highly of his new club after receiving a warm welcome. "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," he said. "As an opponent, I felt the atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico, and felt the warmth of the Romanisti.”

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Romelu Lukaku will spend the 2023-24 season with Roma (AP)

Lukaku could make his Roma debut on Friday, with the Giallorossi taking on AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. Chelsea could also be giving minutes to new faces as Nottingham Forest visit Stamford Bridge, though Pochettino suggested the game may be too soon for Romeo Lavia.

There have been incomings as well as outgoings at Stamford Bridge in the final week of the transfer window. Callum Hudson-Odoi is closing in on a move to Nottingham Forest at the time of writing, while Chelsea have snapped up Cole Palmer in a big-money deal from Manchester City.

"I think it was one the sporting directors and owners had the ideas to bring him to the squad, he fits the project but he is a good player," Pochettino said. He comes because he expects to play more and be important here but he has seen Chelsea as a project and he can improve.

"The quality is there and the potential and he needs to prove and show he is better than his teammates. We have to be careful with young players he will move from Manchester to London and he must settle. He must find his space in the team."

Tom Victor