Striker Lukaku scored eight goals in 26 Premier League games for Chelsea last season
Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on loan for the whole season, just a year after leaving for Chelsea.
Inter have agreed to pay a loan fee of around € 8 million (£ 6.9 million) for Lukaku, which helped them win Serie A in 2020-21.
The Belgian striker was not a regular Chelsea starter last season, but scored 15 goals in all competitions.
Understandably, Lukaku was willing to accept a pay cut to support his return to Inter, but the club’s financial situation meant that it was impossible to equalize his salary or buy the striker directly.
However, President Stephen Zhang personally joined the talks last week, which were considered significant.
“I’m back, darling,” Lukaku said in an external video link on Inter’s Twitter page.
“I am very happy.” Zhang added, “The big boss is back. It’s like déjà vu, coming back here again.”
Lukaku, who left Chelsea to join Everton for £ 28 million in 2014, returned to Stamford Bridge last summer with a five-year contract.
But after an injury and illness, he remained out of the starting lineup and in an interview with Sky Sport Italia said he was not happy with his role under manager Thomas Tuchel.
After apologizing for these comments, Lukaku returned to the Chelsea team and scored only three times in his last 15 Premier League games since last season, after the Blues’ season failed.
Tuhel’s team finished third in the Premier League, while they were defeated by Liverpool on penalties in both the FA Cup and League Cup finals.
Inter finished second in Serie A last season, two points behind city rivals Milan. They are also in talks with Juventus striker Paulo Dybala.
The 28-year-old Argentine national will be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the month.
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