Uncertain future for Lukaku at Inter as Chelsea considers summer clear-out

The CEO of Inter has verified that Romelu Lukaku will move back to Chelsea in the upcoming season. He added that the player has not been performing as well as he used to in the past.

Giuseppe Marotta, the CEO of Inter, has announced that the club will not be making Romelu Lukaku’s loan move from Chelsea a permanent deal at the end of the season. Despite Inter’s impressive achievement of qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in a decade, Lukaku was relegated to the bench and only made a substitute appearance.

Marotta openly discussed Lukaku’s future after the goalless draw against Porto. This represents a significant change in Lukaku’s career trajectory, as just two years ago he was considered a player who could have made the difference in such an important game.

“The loan was for one season so on June 30 regardless of how well he plays, he’ll go back to Chelsea,” Marotta told Sky Italia. “This has been an unprecedented season. I’m referring of course to the World Cup. The problems we’ve experienced have been experienced by other clubs too and the players who played at the World Cup.

“Lukaku is a case in point. [Marcelo] Brozovic isn’t the Brozovic we know. Lukaku hasn’t found the fitness he needs to play his best football. He’s still not at his best or the player we got to see in years gone by.”

Romelu Lukaku played a key role in helping Inter win the Scudetto under Antonio Conte in the 2020-21 season, where he formed an impressive partnership with Lautaro Martinez. After returning to Chelsea in a massive £98 million deal, Lukaku struggled to find his form in the Premier League and expressed his desire to return to Inter in a surprising interview.

He eventually secured a loan move back to Inter for this season. However, his return to San Siro has not gone according to plan, with injuries and inconsistency hampering his season, leading to only five goals in 17 appearances so far.

Giuseppe Marotta’s recent remarks indicate that Romelu Lukaku’s future is uncertain at this point. At Chelsea, manager Graham Potter has been managing a significantly large squad, which he seems to be finally getting to work together well. However, in order to recover funds, a clear-out of the squad may be necessary during the summer. Lukaku could very well be one of the players who might be affected by this.