Lukaku to Chelsea? €100m bid + player rejected

[KennyBurner]

No, they tell you what to do. If you don't do it, it's your own fault.

This makes no sense. An employee does not just do what they want.

 

[UncleBob]

This makes no sense. An employee does not just do what they want.

It makes no sense that we can't force the player regarding food?

 

[Adam-Utd]

Either the digestion story was true, or Conte just worked him so much harder + got more out of him as he respected him.

Lukaku said he's the best manager he's ever worked with so obviously tried harder and looked after himself more.

At united there's no doubting he was genuinely fat and over weight.

The big thing is will be be able to keep that up at Chelsea?

 

[Lash]

This makes no sense. An employee does not just do what they want.

This is scarily naive. Does your boss watch every little thing you do?

If your job required you to adhere to a strict diet, do you actually think we we'd monitor them 24/7?

 

[roonster09]

Either the digestion story was true, or Conte just worked him so much harder + got more out of him as he respected him.

Lukaku said he's the best manager he's ever worked with so obviously tried harder and looked after himself more.

At united there's no doubting he was genuinely fat and over weight.

The big thing is will be be able to keep that up at Chelsea?

I remember posting streamable video of Lukaku when he was training away from first team, he looked trim already during that preseason.

 

[Adam-Utd]

I remember posting streamable video of Lukaku when he was training away from first team, he looked trim already during that preseason.

I think he knew he was joining Inter all summer, probably just trained a lot harder then for his dream move.

 

[dinostar77]

Which our medical team may have missed...

It happens. Utd medical team under fergie missed an underlying stomach issue with Evra that juventus sorted and prolonged his top flight career.

 

[dinostar77]

Do you guys think we are the problem.? Im looking at pictures of lukaku while he was here and he was so big/fat. Looking at him playing for Inter and the euros, he looks very fit.

How come our coaching staff are so incompetent and cant keep our players in shape?

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That comparison of Lukaku at Utd and for Belgium now is an eye opener. Thats desire and determination to improve and get your fitness and body weight to the right level.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I’ve never wanted us to sell a player as badly as when we had Lukaku

Really not my type of player or person. The thumbs up at every rubbish pass attempt to him. The refusal to celebrate. Being offended by everything. Saying he wanted to leave after like a day. Just no.

Our fans didn’t help, feck me we were like spoiled Madrid fans turning our nose up at him and were on his back from day one. I don’t think he expected that and didn’t ever feel properly welcome.

 

[TheReligion]

Conte got him drinking Kombucha I heard

 

[United in sin]

I hope Chelsea sign him. Lukaku is one of the best forwards in world football. With City going for Kane and United possibly going for Haaland next season we could be in for some really exciting times in the league in the next 3-4 seasons.

 

[Paxi]

This is scarily naive. Does your boss watch every little thing you do?

If your job required you to adhere to a strict diet, do you actually think we we'd monitor them 24/7?

No I’m sure he doesn’t but then I’m sure he’s not an elite professional. Elite sports men have to watch what they eat, there is no way around it. Of course the club can’t force him but they can sure as hell punish him by not playing him.

 

[WeePat]

I suppose it's time to get myself psyched for this move. The boy is coming home. Storybook ending to his career etc. Lifelong dream finally properly fulfilled. Let's do this.

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[Redcy]

I fail to see how either of these points refutes what I've stated. We desired him to be involved in build play target man style. leading to his first touch gaffes. Our lack of two functioning flanks ensured he would never have the room nor supply to score against any big team.

The claim was that he had lots of haters because he didnt score enough goals, noone hated him, and most peoples issues with him were those two things. The idea that the only reason he had a bad first touch was because he was being used ineffectively is cobblers though, if you want to say he has a very poor first touch if you play the ball into him so therefore don't play him as a target man, well yeah.

 

[Tallis]

We have a 5% sell on clause apparently.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Our fans didn’t help, feck me we were like spoiled Madrid fans turning our nose up at him and were on his back from day one. I don’t think he expected that and didn’t ever feel properly welcome.

I can't remember it that way. I even remember Lukaku being offended and asking the fans to stop singing his song because it referenced him having a large penis. Which personally i would have found funny.

It is just a clash. I'm sure Milan suits him better.

 

[KennyBurner]

This is scarily naive. Does your boss watch every little thing you do?

If your job required you to adhere to a strict diet, do you actually think we we'd monitor them 24/7?

We wouldn't have to. The fact that United couldn't diagnose that he was very fat and had weight problems is the issue. They never dealt with it. He left the club and immediately was put on a diet. What changed? Why didnt we help him cut the weight. Stop pretending like our staff isnt partly at fault especially when we have lots of fitness coaches. Overweight for over a season and there were no fines? Clearly we were okay with it.

 

[Redcy]

Elite sports people are expected to look after themselves, a club will have no say over what you eat as such, they will monitor you and report back to the manager and fitness staff, who will consequently tell the player he needs to make changes, but at that level you are expected to behave like an adult. This is something kids who aim to be elite sports people learn from 10 years old.

 

[Zaphod2319]

Either the digestion story was true, or Conte just worked him so much harder + got more out of him as he respected him.

Lukaku said he's the best manager he's ever worked with so obviously tried harder and looked after himself more.

At united there's no doubting he was genuinely fat and over weight.

The big thing is will be be able to keep that up at Chelsea?

I read a piece that Conte had him doing drills to improve his first touch daily. I bet Tuchel uses as much as he can to keep him going. If it is working, use it.

 

[Tallis]

I hope Chelsea sign him. Lukaku is one of the best forwards in world football. With City going for Kane and United possibly going for Haaland next season we could be in for some really exciting times in the league in the next 3-4 seasons.

I don’t think we get Haaland. Raiola will be looking to clean up - i don’t think we will be able to offer those kind of wages.

 

[KennyBurner]

It happens. Utd medical team under fergie missed an underlying stomach issue with Evra that juventus sorted and prolonged his top flight career.

This is the question ive been asking? How come evra and lukaku were immediately diagnosed once they left but we couldn't do the same?

 

[Redcy]

We wouldn't have to. The fact that United couldn't diagnose that he was very fat and had weight problems is the issue. They never dealt with it. He left the club and immediately was put on a diet. What changed? Why didnt we help him cut the weight. Stop pretending like our staff isnt partly at fault especially when we have lots of fitness coaches.

Nonsense, if you listen to any PL level player you will know that weight and body fat are regularly measured. Of course they would know about it, its still on him to do it, if he doesn't then the club have to decide whether to play him or not.

 

[KennyBurner]

Nonsense, if you listen to any PL level player you will know that weight and body fat are regularly measured. Of course they would know about it, its still on him to do it, if he doesn't then the club have to decide whether to play him or not.

So was he ever dropped or fined for his weight or not? Clearly not? We encouraged him that it was okay. Seems to be the culture here.

 

[Paxi]

I don’t think we get Haaland. Raiola will be looking to clean up - i don’t think we will be able to offer those kind of wages.

I think we will offer him more than anyone else. Can’t see Barca Bayern Juve offering wages United would offer.

 

[Lash]

No I’m sure he doesn’t but then I’m sure he’s not an elite professional. Elite sports men have to watch what they eat, there is no way around it. Of course the club can’t force him but they can sure as hell punish him by not playing him.

Yeah they're supposed to. He clearly wasn't. It's demonstrably true that he was way too big. You only get that way by not moving enough for what you're eating, or eating too much. Both within his control.

We wouldn't have to. The fact that United couldn't diagnose that he was very fat and had weight problems is the issue. They never dealt with it. He left the club and immediately was put on a diet. What changed? Why didnt we help him cut the weight. Stop pretending like our staff isnt partly at fault especially when we have lots of fitness coaches.

I'm sorry, but does he need a nutritionist or a coach to say stop eating as much? He's adult. Why are our fitness coaches the problem when the rest of the squad were completely fine? It's only Lukaku that had this issue and are we supposed to weigh out his food for him? Put a lock on his snack draw at home? There's pretty strong evidence that we moved him on because of his weight/style and was playing far less regularly at the end of his time here.

 

[mitchmouse]

If they pull this of, I think it will prove my belief that Ole made a mistake - and some here were overly critical (his first touch is certainly no worse than Martial's and he scored goals). but hey ho...

 

[WeePat]

I think we will offer him more than anyone else. Can’t see Barca Bayern Juve offering wages United would offer.

With Chelsea and City potentially out of the picture, United can out spend every European team except PSG and Haaland isn't going to the French league. I'd say you would be his most likely destination, so long as you don't have a disastrous season where you end up outside the top 4.

 

[AshRK]

If they pull this of, I think it will prove my belief that Ole made a mistake - and some here were overly critical (his first touch is certainly no worse than Martial's and he scored goals). but hey ho...

The guy didn't turn up to traina nd was wearing Anderlecht kit and training with them. He wanted to leave and we cashed on him. Nothing wrong.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Be great if this is the striker Chelsea sign. He will score goals against weaker opposition and will not help build up play much at all.

 

[Powderfinger]

With Chelsea and City potentially out of the picture, United can out spend every European team except PSG and Haaland isn't going to the French league. I'd say you would be his most likely destination, so long as you don't have a disastrous season where you end up outside the top 4.

Kane to City isn't a done deal by any means. Anyway, Real Madrid will absolutely be interested in Haaland and could plausibly pull off both him and Mbappe if the latter moves on a free (ie, only player/agent fees, which will still be substantial) and the La Liga private equity deal goes through.

 

[Sandikan]

Remember when we were after Morata or Lukaku, and it all felt so very underwhelming either way?

Must be how Chelsea feel this summer at the prospect!

 

[Chesterlestreet]

We have a 5% sell on clause apparently.

Well - let's hope for a 500m transfer then. Would be half decent spending money.

Seriously, though - isn't it more than that?

 

[Paxi]

With Chelsea and City potentially out of the picture, United can out spend every European team except PSG and Haaland isn't going to the French league. I'd say you would be his most likely destination, so long as you don't have a disastrous season where you end up outside the top 4.

I think so too, hence hoping that City get Kane, you get Lukaku, Real sign Mbappe. That leaves very few realistic destinations.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

The claim was that he had lots of haters because he didnt score enough goals... noone hated him....

Well First. I never mentioned his goal scoring once. You are ALREADY wrong on that. I mentioned rather why things didn't work for him at United which as yet you have not offered a thing to debunk them.

2. I insist he DOES have haters. Even now many in here like on the media talk of him like he is a mid table level player. That's grade A hating on his talent and ability. In spite of the ample evidence to the contrary

, and most peoples issues with him were those two things. The idea that the only reason he had a bad first touch was because he was being used ineffectively is cobblers though, if you want to say he has a very poor first touch if you play the ball into him so therefore don't play him as a target man, well yeah.

What is "cobblers" rather is the idea of him having a poor first touch. It was inconsistent not poor. It's also fairly obvious that if you are not a target man. Namely a player great at holding up the ball to bring others into play, which requires a very reliable first touch. Because of that inconsistent first touch you will be prone to many a gaffe due to repeatedly trying to do what does not come natural to you


So your argument pretty much proves my point. You are amongst those who him
blamed for the very two issues I mentioned

 

[United in sin]

This is the question ive been asking? How come evra and lukaku were immediately diagnosed once they left but we couldn't do the same?

It's probably because Italy has some of the best medical systems in the world (which influences how clubs there operate their medical departments) and they look deeper for things that others miss in routine medicals.

It was also in Italy (at Inter Milan) where the legend Nwankwo Kanu was found to have a heart condition before his Inter Milan debut when he was just 20. Ajax where he was prior didn't find anything wrong with him and the Dutch are also renowned for having excellent healthcare

 

[8thWonder]

Do you guys think we are the problem.? Im looking at pictures of lukaku while he was here and he was so big/fat. Looking at him playing for Inter and the euros, he looks very fit.

How come our coaching staff are so incompetent and cant keep our players in shape?

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They're clearly not, all of our players are in great shape which is why Lukaku stood out like a sore thumb...

That comparison of Lukaku at Utd and for Belgium now is an eye opener. Thats desire and determination to improve and get your fitness and body weight to the right level.

I still find this interesting... He acknowledged both the weight gain and seemingly half the cure but struggled to get back in shape and lost his starting place as a result.

From his time at United;
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/09/romelu-lukaku-world-cup-belgium-manchester-united

" Asked if he bulked up in the summer, Lukaku said: “A little bit of muscle, yeah. It was at the World Cup. I just felt great and I think I played great over there, and then when I came back it is a different type of style.”
" “In the Premier League, I cannot play with the same amount of muscle as international football,” he said. “That was something that when I came back I knew straight away: ‘Nah, I cannot play in this style like this.’ I had to lose muscle basically. So you just stay out of the gym, drink a lot of water, and a lot of veg and fish and it helps.”


From his time at Inter;
https://talksport.com/football/6007...eight-digestion-inter-milan-champions-league/

“Normally I have a fine digestive system,” the striker told ESPN.
“I digest everything very quickly. That’s how it had been my entire life.
“But what the nutritionist said to me was, it had stopped working.”
Lukaku was told by a nutritionist to change his diet to a specific regimen of mainly fish, sweet potatoes, shiitake pasta, and cooked and raw vegetables, and it appears to be doing its job.

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I'd expect Lukaku to have a really good time at Chelsea, but to suggest Ole was wrong to bench a player who was clearly overweight at the time and then subsequently losing him because he wanted to leave, is incorrect imo.

He made a judgement call, player got upset, and the rest is history. I don't get the we'll look silly argument if he's a success story at all.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Lukaku has repeatedly said his decision to leave United was made before Ole took over though. I wonder where the narrative he got upset by being benched by Ole comes from. He has nothing but good things to say of Ole of fact

 

[Zaphod2319]

They're clearly not, all of our players are in great shape which is why Lukaku stood out like a sore thumb...



I still find this interesting... He acknowledged both the weight gain and seemingly half the cure but struggled to get back in shape and lost his starting place as a result.

From his time at United;
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/09/romelu-lukaku-world-cup-belgium-manchester-united

" Asked if he bulked up in the summer, Lukaku said: “A little bit of muscle, yeah. It was at the World Cup. I just felt great and I think I played great over there, and then when I came back it is a different type of style.”
" “In the Premier League, I cannot play with the same amount of muscle as international football,” he said. “That was something that when I came back I knew straight away: ‘Nah, I cannot play in this style like this.’ I had to lose muscle basically. So you just stay out of the gym, drink a lot of water, and a lot of veg and fish and it helps.”


From his time at Inter;
https://talksport.com/football/6007...eight-digestion-inter-milan-champions-league/

“Normally I have a fine digestive system,” the striker told ESPN.
“I digest everything very quickly. That’s how it had been my entire life.
“But what the nutritionist said to me was, it had stopped working.”
Lukaku was told by a nutritionist to change his diet to a specific regimen of mainly fish, sweet potatoes, shiitake pasta, and cooked and raw vegetables, and it appears to be doing its job.

-------------------------------------------------------

I'd expect Lukaku to have a really good time at Chelsea, but to suggest Ole was wrong to bench a player who was clearly overweight at the time and then subsequently losing him because he wanted to leave, is incorrect imo.

He made a judgement call, player got upset, and the rest is history. I don't get the we'll look silly argument if he's a success story at all.

Some of these players with loads of natural talent take some time to mature for their own good. Hopefully he has found that place.

 

[cotumely]

Mendy
Kounde-Silva-Rudiger
James-Kante-Jorginho-Chilwell
Havertz
Lukaku--Werner
​

I wonder if this is the plan by going for 2 left footed tank of strikers this summer.

If I remember right it was a bulky striker that really helped unlock Werner even in the Bundesliga.

He can rotate Mount, Pulisic, Havertz depending on how creative, work rate etc things he wants in a match.

No way Mount doesn’t start.

 

[cotumely]

Nah, apparently they needed 2 big sales. They were hoping the 2nd would be Martinez, but no one is seriously interested.

Arsenal appear to be seriously interested. However, if Lukaku does go to Chelsea, no way will Inter allow Martinez to leave.