Romelu Lukaku’s ‘unbelievable’ European record is earning the one-time Manchester United striker the praise of another who once represented the Premier League giants.
As the Roma striker peeled away to the edge of the box before curling a gorgeous first-half finish into the far corner of the Servette net, Romelu Lukaku took his staggering European tally to 19 goals in his last 15 continental games.
Ok, a streak of scoring in 14 successive Euro matches might have been broken during Roma’s 2-0 defeat by Slavia Prague last month. But, with he and the Giallorossi bouncing back against Swiss opposition on Thursday night, Owen Hargreaves made no attempt to hide his admiration for another player who enjoyed a spell in the red of Manchester United.
Former Manchester United striker back with Jose Mourinho
“Those are unbelievable numbers,” Owen Hargreaves, a 2008 Champions League winner under Sir Alex Ferguson, tells TNT Sport on their highlights show (30 November, 10.30pm).
“He gets some criticism, Lukaku, but he scores goals for fun.”
Well, some of the time, anyway.
After a ill-fated return to Chelsea and a difficult loan spell at Inter Milan, Lukaku is playing his best football since that Scudetto-winning campaign alongside Antonio Conte in 2021. Reunited with his one-time Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, the Belgium international now has 18 goals in 21 games for club and country so far this season.
18 goals in 21 games for Romelu Lukaku
“I found him happy. Romelu needs to be happy. To feel loved and wanted,” Mourinho told DAZN after striking a deal for a player he spent £75 million on when in the Old Trafford dugout six years ago.
“He arrived here and immediately felt that the team needed a player like him. I think he’s really happy. He obviously likes to win, and that’s his nature.”
Roma, beaten Europa League finalists in 2022/23, are looking to go one step further this term as Mourinho aims to add another trophy to his enviable collection of silverware.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/8niBhVZ