Romelu Lukaku seems to have poured cold water on the idea of joining AC Milan, by hinting that reuniting with Antonio Conte or a move to Saudi Arabia are tempting.
Milan are hunting for a new No.9 and while they have been linked with a plethora of younger profiles such as Joshua Zirkzee and Santiago Gimenez, it seems that Lukaku is the latest idea to tempt the management.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Lukaku is a concrete idea for Milan after he returned to Chelsea after a year on loan at Roma.
They added that the Belgian wants to stay in Italy and that he would be interested in the idea of joining the Rossoneri, despite his past with Inter and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Lukaku gave an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws in Belgium in which he was asked about what the future holds, and his comments were relayed by Calciomercato.com.
Is it true you had an offer from Saudi Arabia last year?
“It was really intense at that moment. For two weeks. For two days of row I thought: ‘Yes, I’m going’, ‘No, I’m not going’. Everyone went to Saudi Arabia only after the days in which I could have signed. Let’s say I was scared.
“Saudi Arabia wouldn’t stop me. The level will only increase. And it will reach a much higher level than many think. More and more footballers will tend to play there. Also due to the way in which the fans live football.
“The infrastructure still needs to be improved, but all the big European top clubs know it. Saudi Arabia is already coming, it will happen. And much sooner than many think. I left Belgium when I was eighteen, I miss my mother and my children.”
What does the future hold?
“In my head, I already understood it. I know what will happen. A lot of people like to talk, maybe because I don’t have an official agent. But I will decide. I have control of my situation.
“I will make a choice and once I explain it, everyone will agree with me. Whenever I have decided to stay or go somewhere, it turned out to be the right choice due to some factors.
“An example? My relationship with the coach. It’s like a relationship with a woman. If it doesn’t work anymore, why stay together? Who has been my best coach so far? Antonio Conte.”