MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 12:55:22| >> :60:888:888:

Manchester United legends back Romelu Lukaku exit

Man Utd legends back Romelu Lukaku exit
© Reuters
The Belgian striker is set to join Inter Milan.

Romelu Lukaku is on the brink of joining Inter Milan from Manchester United – a move club greats Phil Neville, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes will not be shedding a tear about.

Two years after his big-money arrival from Everton, the 26-year-old is departing for Serie A in a deal that PA understands could reach 80 million euros (£73.75million).

United have included a sell-on clause as part of a deal that is close to being completed after Lukaku arrived in Milan overnight to complete paperwork and a medical.

Lukaku was unable to build on a strong start
Lukaku was unable to build on a strong start (Nick Potts/PA)

The exit has been long a time coming and a rather uncomfortable process, with a number of United favourites believing the deal is for the best.

Phil Neville told PA: "He started well, didn't he? He started well.

"I'll be honest with you, I never felt as if he was a United centre forward. That was my feeling.

"But he started well, then obviously he lost a little bit of confidence and then found it difficult to get back up to form.

"I think there was always that feeling of was he fit enough? And was his style suited to playing football for Manchester United? That was my question.

Phil Neville is not sure Lukaku suited United
Phil Neville is not sure Lukaku suited United (Richard Sellers/PA)

"He'll always score goals wherever he goes. He'll score goals for Inter Milan.

"But the way you want to play, you've got to fit the right people on the bus and Romelu Lukaku was never that person."

Neville was speaking as TalkTalk celebrated a new five-year partnership with Salford City, with fellow part-owners Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville also in attendance.

The latter was pretty cutting in his assessment of Lukaku in a Twitter post sent before the event.

"He admitted he was overweight!" Gary Neville wrote. "He is over 100kg! He's a Manchester United player! He will score goals and do well at Inter Milan but unprofessionalism is contagious."

While not as pointed, Scholes does not believe Lukaku suited former team-mate Solskjaer's style.

"I don't think he was suited to Ole either," the former United midfielder said.

"Ole wants someone with a bit of energy, a bit of speed, someone who is going to work hard (but) he'll score goals."

Marcos Rojo could be set to leave United
Marcos Rojo could be set to leave United (Martin Rickett/PA)

Lukaku could be followed out of the exit door on deadline day by defender Marcos Rojo. PA understands talks have been held with Everton about a loan deal for the Argentina international, who has dropped further down the pecking order following the record-breaking acquisition of Harry Maguire from Leicester.

A number of younger players could also be making temporary exits, but incomings look increasingly unlikely as the clock winds down.

Hope of a possible deal for Juventus' Mario Mandzukic is dimming. Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James are United's only first-team acquisitions this summer, while Antonio Valencia and Ander Herrera left at the end of their contracts.

Marouane Fellaini joined Chinese side Shandong Luneng at the start of the year.

ID:367426: cacheID:367426:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9151:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring during a Europa League group game in November 2018
Read Next:
Mendes pushing United to sign Fernandes?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!