Football News

Inter Milan legend digs out Romelu Lukaku over Chelsea transfer

Former Inter Milan striker Diego Milito has taken a swipe at recently departed strikers Romelu Lukaku and Mauro Icardi.

The 42-year-old Argentinian is one of Inter’s club legends, playing for five seasons at the San Siro. He won Serie A, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in his time there.

His efforts are well respected among the Nerazzurri fans and the former international has been heavily critical of both Lukaku and Icardi.

Icardi, left the club in 2018 for PSG, while Lukaku returned to Chelsea in the summer.

Milito is not impressed by either player and believes Lukaku’s loyalty was questionable.

“I don’t like the way Icardi left, I could have given so much, however, he remains a top striker,” Milito told La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia.

“As for Lukaku, there is one thing you should never do: promise what you can’t deliver. It’s normal for a player to leave and go somewhere else, but the fans are disappointed for his declarations of loyalty before joining Chelsea.”

One player Milito does have time for is his compatriot Lautaro Martinez, who is now Inter’s focal point in attack

“Lautaro has improved a lot, but still not enough. He still has room for improvement because his strength is in the head: he has clear ideas and he wants to learn,” Milito said.

“Lautaro used to get too angry on the pitch, now he has improved, he’s taken the right path. He is at the centre of Inter’s attack after Lukaku’s sale.

 

“I don’t give any advice to him, even if we often speak. Apparently, he will soon sign a contract extension and I hope he will stay at Inter for a long time.

“He can adapt quickly to any attacking partner. He can play with Sanchez or Correa. El Tucu will be a decisive weapon this season because he has unique characteristics.”

Thomas Tuchel has claimed that Lukaku was the type of player Chelsea were missing at the club.

Lukaku’s sweet header in the second half saw off a battling Zenit St Petersburg side in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Subscribe for free to TEAMtalk’s daily newsletter…

Tuchel lauds Lukaku

Tuchel said: “The performance from Romelu was not easy. We didn’t create many chances for him but he’s the type of guy who doesn’t lose confidence and belief. And that is why he is a world-class striker.

“He’s super important, it’s as easy as that. You don’t find many strikers of his quality.

 

“We did win also without Romelu and produced results. But he was the type of profile we were missing, not just because of the talent but because of the personality. He is such a humble guy, a super communicator in the dressing room, and that creates a certain energy around him in the team that we are proud of and what to have.

“The spirit and atmosphere last year took us very far and it’s important we have it again. We have it with Romelu, he knows what the club is about.

“We have him and we are very pleased because he gives everybody around him confidence.

“There are not many goals in football and goals change the momentum of the match. It gives the whole team belief that one chance is enough for him to score. So it’s not only talent he brings, he brings belief and takes pressure off the shoulders of other guys around him.

“He has the personality not to lose confidence. He is at a very high level and we are very happy to have him with us.”

READ MORE: Pochettino ramps up CL pressure on Chelsea, admitting PSG lack what Tuchel has

The post Inter Milan legend digs out Romelu Lukaku over Chelsea transfer appeared first on TEAMtalk.