Football
Chelsea striker reunites with Mourinho
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reuniting with former boss Jose Mourinho. The Blues have allowed the forward to leave the club on loan to join Serie A side Roma.
The 30-year-old joined Chelsea from Inter for £97.5m in 2021. And has spent last season on loan at Inter Milan.
The move is a straight loan with a fee worth between £7m to £8m depending on performance-related conditions. Roma will cover Lukaku’s wages after he agreed to a salary cut at Chelsea, National Daily reports.
Lukaku has agreed to a salary cut for the remaining three years of his Chelsea contract.
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There is a release clause in his contract too, thought to be in the region of £38m.
Lukaku will reunite with former Chelsea boss, who took Roma to the Europa League final last season.
Roma officials Ryan Friedkin and Tiago Pinto flew to London last weekend for face-to-face talks with Chelsea over a deal to bring Lukaku to the Italian capital for the season.
Lukaku spent last season on loan at Inter Milan after he fell out of favour at Chelsea following a controversial interview in which he said he was not happy under former head coach Thomas Tuchel.
The striker was keen on a return to Italy and was happy to go to Rome because of his desire to work with Mourinho again.
Lukaku will be working under Mourinho for the third time. They were both previously at Chelsea and Manchester United.
Juventus held talks with Chelsea over the signing of Lukaku earlier this summer. National Daily understands that Inter were also keen on bringing the Belgium international back to Italy.
Lukaku is Belgium all-time highest goal scorer with 75 goals.
Saudi side Al Hilal were also interested in signing the 30-year-old.