Big Rom is back to scoring but what will become of him in the summer? Between the high costs, the situation at Chelsea and a season finale to write, all the cards on the table
You look at Romelu Lukaku’s second goal in Empoli-Inter and you think it’s the Belgian’s first real replay of the season that can be superimposed on the amazing performances shown continuously in the first two years for the Nerazzurri under the orders of Antonio Conte. And, taking it a step further, if Big Rome if the dominant one from the last Inter championship returned with continuity, then everything would have to be called into question. Including that loan renewal from Chelsea which at the moment seems unlikely for various reasons, more economic than technical.
Why not
—
To be clearer, the two components – economic and technical – are complementary but not equivalent. Both contribute to the general evaluation of the deal, but it is the high costs of the operation that hinder Lukaku’s stay in Milan, much more than a subdued season can do. Of course, Romelu’s general performance has been enormously lower than expected, but given the updated economic situation, another temporary transfer of similar magnitude would be excessive. On one front, the extra revenues from UEFA for the Champions League campaign have ensured pure oxygen for Steven Zhang’s club, but on the other, they also have to deal with the lost revenue from the never finalized sale of Milan Skriniar, who will say goodbye on a free transfer . It’s as if, thinking about it, Inter had realized how foolhardy it is to spend around twenty million in total – between gross salary and onerous loan – to have a player for just a year. Then, of course, the bitter reality of a season so far with 9 goals overall has accentuated the enormity of the expense. To all this, however, there is an “unless” …
Because yes
—
As the weeks went by, the sensations around Inter changed, because initially the most probable path to take was that of a re-discussion of the terms to take out a new loan deal at lower figures. Lately, however, there has been more of a decisive “no” air: better to invest that amount for a player to be contracted for longer and on whom he can also count in the future. This change of perspective was favored by the prolongation of Lukaku’s difficulties, who, however, is beginning to recover in late spring. First the penalties converted into a series and the qualifying goal against Porto in the round of 16 of the Champions League, then also the return to goal from open play in the league with the double redemption in Empoli. Obviously it’s not enough to change the face of a subdued season, but Romelu is convinced that nothing is impossible. He wanted to return to Milan about fifteen months ago and did everything he could to say goodbye to London, succeeding against all odds: now he wants to stay in the Nerazzurri and believes he can once again shape the future to his liking. If a year and a half ago he had worked in diplomacy, this time the only path is that of goals. That double pass with a left-handed shot to sign the double against Castellani is precisely reminiscent of Conte’s two-year period and the opportunity to sign the Champions League and therefore to associate one’s surname with the indelible history of the Nerazzurri club should not be underestimated. In short, however residual, the possibilities of shaping the future once again exist. “Mission impossible”, one would say to anyone else. But the reality is that if we talk about Lukaku it is not convenient to be absolutist. Let’s say very difficult, then.
April 24th – 3.20pm
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED