Romelu Lukaku has joined AS Roma on loan for the upcoming season. The deal was agreed upon by the Giallorossi after negotiations with Chelsea. The former Inter player chose not to return to Inter after they reached a deal with Chelsea in July.
In late August, AS Roma entered the race to sign Lukaku after Chelsea made him available for another loan season. Chelsea had signed the Belgian striker for a record fee of €115 million in the summer of 2021 but loaned him out to Inter after just one year.
Lukaku arrived in Rome on Tuesday and received a warm welcome from thousands of Roma fans at Ciampino Airport. The American owner of the club, Dan Friedkin, personally flew his private jet from London to Rome to greet the player. Over 47 thousand people tracked the flight on flightradar, making it the most tracked flight ever on the platform.
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Lukaku expressed his excitement about the transfer, stating, “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. As an opponent, I felt the atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico and felt the warmth of the Romanisti.”
The owner of AS Roma, American businessman Dan Friedkin, has been implementing changes at the club since taking over in the summer of 2020. This included appointing Jose Mourinho as the club’s coach in 2021. Mourinho is now in his final year of contract with the Giallorossi, having won the UEFA Conference League in his first year and reaching the UEFA Europa League final last season. The signing of Lukaku aligns with the Friedkins’ vision of AS Roma finishing in the top four of Serie A.
Mourinho’s goal for his final year with AS Roma is to secure a top-four finish, despite the team only earning one point in their first two games, drawing against Salernitana and losing to Hellas Verona. Lukaku’s arrival is expected to make a difference.
