Romelu Lukaku Opens Door To Saudi Arabia Move

Romelu Lukaku, a striker for Chelsea, has stated that, a year after declining a transfer to Al Hilal, he is open to playing in Saudi Arabia.

Lukaku, who has spent the last two years away from Stamford Bridge on loan at Inter Milan and alongside Mourinho at Roma, will be permitted to depart Chelsea this summer for an estimated £37 million.

Although there is still infrastructural work to be done, he declined a transfer to the Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal last summer and stated that he is certain that “Saudi Arabia is coming.”

In an interview with Belgian broadcasters VTM, Romelu Lukaku spoke about the possibility of a move this summer, saying: “A lot of people like to talk, maybe because I don’t have an agent. But I’m going to decide. I control my situation myself.

“I am going to make a choice and once I explain it, everyone is going to agree with me. Look, every time I decided to stay or leave somewhere, it turned out to be the right choice because of certain factors — for example my rapport with the coach”, Lukaku said. “It’s like a relationship with a woman. If it doesn’t click anymore, why stay together?

“Saudi Arabia wouldn’t stop me. The level will only increase,” said Lukaku to VTM. “To a much higher level than many people think. More and more football players will tend to play there. Also because of how the fans there experience football. The infrastructure still needs to be improved, but all major European clubs know, ‘Saudi Arabia is coming’. You already see that in boxing, golf, Formula 1…”

Speaking of his proposed move to Al-Hilal last summer, he added: “That was really intense at the time. For two weeks. For two days in a row I thought, ‘Yes, I’m going’, ‘No, I’m not going’.”

At Stamford Bridge, Lukaku makes about £325,000 a week ($415,419,419), and Chelsea is eager to cut that expense off their payroll in order to raise money for new hires.

The Chelsea team is hesitant to approve a third loan move for the Belgium international since he still has two years left on his contract.

This is because the club wants to recover a portion of the £97.5 million that it paid Inter Milan in 2021.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli