Revealed: Why Lukaku gets ridiculed by Inter team-mates

Robin Bairner

• 31 Oct 2022 09:20 GMT
• 2 min read

Inter striker Romelu Lukaku may have been welcomed back from Chelsea on loan with open arms this summer, but that does not mean the Belgium international striker escapes a ribbing from his team-mates.

Lukaku was a key figure for the Nerazzurri as they won the Serie A title in 2020/21 but after moving to Chelsea for a fee of €115 million he proved a flop, with 15 goals and two assists during the campaign.

The Blues have shunted him back to Italy on loan and Inter are already plotting a way in which they can make the move permanent, despite Lukaku having spent much of this season injured. Chelsea are even ready to take a huge hit financially to offload the striker.

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Reduced to five appearances, the 29-year-old, who is valued at €54m by FootballTransfers, has scored twice as they have struggled to fifth in Italy’s top flight.

Lukaku’s first touch targeted by Inter team-mates

While it is hoped that Lukaku’s return from a hamstring problem might have a further positive influence on a side that has won its last four league matches, team-mate Nico Barella has revealed that the striker gets it tight from his colleagues because of his lack of technique.

Barella scored Inter’s second goal in a 3-0 win over Sampdoria with a brilliant effort. Breaking beyond the backline, he took a silky first touch before delivering a fierce shot into the net.

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“I told Lukaku: ‘See, that’s how you do a first touch!’” he said after the game. “I was joking, we always play around and make fun of each other, it’s a great group of lads and we have a lot of fun.”

Lukaku has made his return from a hamstring injury that kept him on the sidelines for two months just in time for the World Cup, but with just three matches in which to build his fitness before Qatar 2022, it remains to be seen what type of influence he is able to have at the competition.