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Romelu Lukaku: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted me to stay at Manchester United.

  • Lukaku ended his two-year spell at Old Trafford last summer to seek pastures new.

  • The Belgian says it was a "close" call whether to join Inter or Serie A rivals Juventus.


Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen to keep him at Manchester United.


The former Chelsea and Everton frontman said he "didn't have the energy" to stay at United despite Solskjaer wanting him to remain at with the 20-time champions.


Lukaku sealed a move to Serie A club Inter Milan in August 2019 after facing regular criticism for his performances, especially in his second season with the Red Devils.


In a YouTube interview with Arsenal legend Ian Wright, Lukaku, who scored 42 goals in 96 appearances for United, said: "One bad year can happen to everybody in their career. It was just done for me. You know what happened behind the scenes, it was just done. For me it was done.

"It was a difficult situation where for myself I had to make a decision where I have to go somewhere where I can learn other aspects of my game and work with somebody that wanted me as well.


"Ole wanted me to stay, but I told him I was over. I didn't have the energy. All credit to him because he's been a man and he helped me make the move away."


The 26-year-old believes Solskjaer’s side are going the ‘right way’, adding that they are signing the ‘right players’.


"They're going the right way because they're bringing in the right players," Lukaku said. "Ole is doing a good job and the results are going for them. I'm wishing them nothing but the best.


"It's a club that gave me a platform that I've never seen in my life, so for me to be disrespectful about Man U or any other club I played for in England I think is a bit childish. I think I went past that stage of talking back to people."

Lukaku also confirmed he wasn’t sure whether to join FC Internazionale Milano or Juventus, saying Antonio Conte was key in his decision to sign for the Nerazzurri.


"It was close. It was really close but my mind was always set on Inter… and the manager," he said. "When I was a kid, Inter was my team in Italy. I looked up to Adriano and Ronaldo.


"Obviously when Inter came, the club, the manager Conte that wanted me at Chelsea and when he was at Juve as well, I was like now it's time to go over there and see what it's like, but just keep my head down and work."


Lukaku has been in fine form for Conte’s Inter Milan side this season, scoring 23 goals in 35 games.

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