Premier League
Romelu Lukaku Considers Move To Saudi Pro League
Romelu Lukaku has expressed his willingness to play in Saudi Arabia, a year after rejecting a move to Al Hilal.
Chelsea is interested in securing a permanent transfer for the 31-year-old Lukaku, whose future is once again in question following loan spells at Inter Milan and Roma in the past two seasons.
Lukaku earns around £ 325,000 a week ($415,419) at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea is keen to remove that cost from their wage bill while raising funds for new signings.
With two years left on his Chelsea contract, the Belgium international is currently facing uncertainty as the club is hesitant to approve another loan deal, aiming instead to recover some of the £97.5m paid to Inter Milan for his transfer in 2021.
Chelsea attempted to finalize an agreement for Lukaku to transfer to Al Hilal last summer. Although they accepted an offer, Lukaku ultimately declined the proposal.
Lukaku now believes the Saudi Pro League is flourishing, attributing this growth to the arrival of several star players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema.
Asked why he hesitated last summer, Lukaku told HLN: “Because everyone only went to Saudi Arabia after I could sign there, I was scared for a while.”
“[Now] Saudi Arabia would not stop me. The level there will only rise, to a much higher level than many people think. More and more footballers will tend to play there.”
“Also because of how the fans there experience football. The infrastructure still needs to improve, but all the big top European clubs know: ‘Saudi Arabia is coming.’ You already see that in boxing, golf, Formula 1.”
Speaking about the possibility of a move this summer, Lukaku continued: “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?”
Romelu Lukaku has reiterated his desire to conclude his career back in Belgium with Anderlecht, the club where he began his professional career in 2006.
“It will happen,” he said. “And much earlier than many people think. I left Belgium when I was 18.”
