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If Romelu Lukaku is determined to stay at Chelsea, he passed up a golden opportunity to publicly declare those intentions when quizzed by a reporter yesterday at Belgium’s training camp ahead of their Nations League matches against Netherlands, Poland, and Wales.
Of course, pleading the fifth doesn’t necessarily mean the opposite either, and maybe he was just not in the mood to engage some rumor-mongering reporter — perhaps a welcome departure, even, from his usual chattiness — but saying “I can’t speak” is a rather Mourinho-esque way of actually speaking quite loudly, especially in the current environment of continually swirling rumors from Italy. (Lukaku recently also commended himself for “keeping his mouth shut” over the past six months, so maybe he’s just a reformed man? But again, this would’ve been a great opportunity to actually talk.)
“Non può parlare.”
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) June 3, 2022
Romelu Lukaku’s answer to a question about Inter from an Italian reporter, before Belgium’s last training session. “I can’t speak.”
The ‘Ex on the Pitch’ reality series keeps on making headlines in Italy. Lukaku’s people haven’t heard Chelsea’s stance as yet pic.twitter.com/2E04xwZFyU
While Lukaku isn’t speaking publicly, behind the scenes he’s said to be doing quite a bit of speaking, with Corriere dello Sport (via Football Italia) claiming that he’s told Inter that he will “take care of convincing Chelsea to release him on loan this summer”.
That said, Chelsea have reportedly not heard from either Lukaku or Inter, and if the Nerazzurri are to complete this swoop by the end of the month (to take advantage of some sort of tax break via Italy’s “Growth Decree”), they better get to doing so soon. We’re open for business now, haven’t they heard?
Lukaku is already the subject of talk in Italy about a move back
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) June 2, 2022
Yet the complexities of the striker rejoining Inter are a major obstacle
He may not appear to fit Tuchel's system but don't be too shocked if he ends up staying put at #CFC for now
@SJohnsonSport
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