Romelu Lukaku has joined Serie A side AS Roma on loan from Chelsea until the end of the 2023-24 season.
The 30-year-old Belgian striker of Congolese descent is making another return to the Italian top flight having spent the previous campaign at Inter Milan, also on loan.
Italian heavyweights Juventus were linked with Lukaku but the move never materialised. There was also reported interest from clubs in the lucrative Saudi Arabian Pro League but it was turned down.
Lukaku will now team up with Jose Mourinho for the third time having previously worked with the Portuguese tactician at Chelsea in 2013 and Manchester United in 2017, and is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Italian capital.
“The welcome I’ve received from this club and its fans has excited me and given me even more motivation to give my all for my new team. As an opponent, I felt the atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico, and felt the warmth of the Romanisti,” Lukaku said on the club website.
“It’s nice to know I’m a part of it today. I recently got the opportunity to speak with the owners, and I was impressed by their ambition. Now we must work, be humble, and grow game by game. For my part, I can’t wait to be available to my teammates both on and off the pitch.”
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— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 31, 2023
Roma football general manager, Tiago Pinto said of Lukaku: “Knowing that Lukaku has chosen Roma can only bring us great satisfaction. With his arrival, we gain more experience, professionalism, and a drive to win.
“All our decisions are focused on increasing the squad’s competitiveness, and we continually assess their performances on the pitch. However, it makes us very proud to watch the fans greet Romelu with such excitement.”
Lukaku could make his Roma debut in the big Serie A clash with AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday night.
