Transfer Centre

Inter Milan CEO hints Romelu Lukaku could return to Chelsea after Thomas Tuchel exit

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 09 September 2022

Inter CEO hints Lukaku could return to Chelsea after Tuchel exit

Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta suggests that Romelu Lukaku could be wanted back at Chelsea next summer following Thomas Tuchel's exit.

Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta has suggested that Romelu Lukaku could be wanted back at Chelsea next summer following the departure of head coach Thomas Tuchel from the Blues.

Lukaku returned to Stamford Bridge in a £97.5m deal in August 2021, but he found it difficult to make his mark during his second spell with the London club.

The Belgium international only scored eight Premier League goals last term, and he has returned to Inter on loan for the 2022-23 campaign.

There did not appear to be a future for the 29-year-old at Chelsea under Tuchel, but the German lost his job as head coach earlier this week, with Graham Potter now in charge.

Marotta has speculated that Potter's arrival could lead to Lukaku returning to his parent club for the 2023-24 campaign.

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter on August 13, 2022 © Reuters

"It's fresh news. I don't know what the effects of the change of coach will be [for Lukaku's future]," Marotta told Sky Sport.

"We want to get the best performance out of Lukaku, and then at the end of the season we will sit down and talk about him with Chelsea. I don't know if a change of coach means that his return is automatic, it's difficult to predict today."

Lukaku has missed Inter's last two league matches through injury, but he has scored one goal and registered one assist in three Serie A appearances this term.

Speaking last month, the Belgian said that he had "a kind of anger" inside him, having found it difficult to make his mark for Chelsea during the 2021-22 campaign.

"The season at Chelsea gave me extra motivation to do even better than before. I think in one year everyone has forgotten about the things I am capable of doing on the pitch," Lukaku told DAZN.

Romelu Lukaku warms up for Chelsea in April 2022 © Reuters

"That is a kind of anger that I have inside me. That now the team has it too, which didn't win last year, all together we hope to do better and bring something home.

"So many things (went wrong). I think before, when I left, I wanted to take revenge at Chelsea because when I was young it was my team for 11 years. I had the opportunity to go back there and thought I would be a hero, but that wasn't the case.

"In March, when I heard there was an opportunity to come back here, slowly I didn't say anything, but toward the end of the season we did a very good job with the club and I was able to come back here.

"I make reflections only at the end of the season, so after the last game I put myself to think what my situation was. I saw that as a player with Inter I did well, the season at Chelsea for me was difficult. I had no doubts, that's why I made the decision to come back here."

Lukaku still has another four years left to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge and could find himself in the plans of the club's new manager for next term.