Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta does not seem too disappointed about missing out on one Chelsea player.
Inter signed Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea back in the summer of 2022 and wanted to retain his services the following year.
However, the striker ended up joining AS Roma instead, but Giuseppe Marotta has now suggested that the club missing out on him was a blessing in disguise. The Inter CEO’s words on Lukaku have been shared by Il Resto del Carlino.
While the Nerazzurri were unable to bring the 30-year-old back to the San Siro, they were able to sign Marcus Thuram, who has been excellent for them this season.
In 24 Serie A appearances, the France international has scored 10 goals and provided seven assists.
Giuseppe Marotta not disappointed about missing out on Romelu Lukaku
Marotta and Inter have quickly moved on from Lukaku.
On the Belgian, he said: “We had taken Thuram anyway, but if Lukaku had accepted we would have found ourselves with him, [Lautaro] Martinez and Thuram. Maybe there wouldn’t have been the same chemistry we have with Marcus and Lautaro.”
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Romelu Lukaku’s stats this season
In the 32 games Lukaku has played this term, he has scored 16 goals, with nine of those coming in Serie A.
It means Thuram has actually outscored him in the Italian top flight, though the former Borussia Monchengladbach man has appeared in more games.
Nevertheless, you can see why Marotta is happy with how things ended. As for Chelsea, they will just be hoping that they can actually find a buyer for Lukaku now.
According to the Evening Standard, the Blues are willing to offload the Belgium international for £37m. Whether Roma will be able to afford that remains to be seen, but it is quite clear that the player does not have a future in west London.
