Romelu Lukaku
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I can't believe my eyes. How is Denmark controlling the game :serious:
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Lukaku gets the ball and immeditly he gets surrounded by 3 players. Next season will be tough
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- Sheik Salman
- Old username
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I think playing for United immeditly makes you a worse player. Just look at Pogba or
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- Wesley Sneijder
Best Football Poster
Best Overall PosterRadio Catalunya: Ronald Koeman saw in Romelu Lukaku the perfect striker and he was a great objective of the Dutch coach. However, the economic issue made the transfer impossible.
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Most Improved Member50mln offer + Firpo + Rafinha is coming soon.
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FIF Special Ones
10 years of FIF"INTER, IT'S A DREAM TO PLAY FOR YOU" - Lukaku: "My family survived on €500 a month, now I take care of them. Football without fans is not real football. Conte? Mentor and father"
Romelu Lukaku is a modern player. He has great physicality and technique for all to envy. He also has the personality of a leader and, at the same time, he is able to convey that he is a gentle giant. He scores wonderful goals and he is great harmony with coach Antonio Conte pretty much by nature. The squad of Inter is emerging, technical and powerful. Just look at the last couple of signings in the midfield in Arturo Vidal and Nicolo Barella (last year) and you will be able to tell this inspiration. Lukaku is kind, intelligent and witty. He is someone who is aware of everyone’s rights. He suffered in life and knows the value of being free. We (Gazzetta dello Sport) believe that his relationship with Italy will not be a short one. And that is fortunate for us all.
Can you tell us about the first football in your life?
“When I was one and a half years old. We were at home in Liege, Belgium, and since that day I have never left the ball. This is how my love for football began. My dad took me to his training sessions whenever he could. He left Zaire to play football in Belgium, arrived there in 1990 and played for ten years in their Serie A.”
Your family suffered financially.
“My dad had no luck with money. When he ended his career, he didn’t have a house because he wasn’t saving money. When he finished playing, I quickly realized that we were going to have serious financial difficulties. I immediately decided to be a footballer. I wanted to improve my family’s situation.”
Was that your toughest moment?
“Yes. I can never forget it. One day before going to school, I saw my mother make a gesture that I will always remember: she took the milk left over from the day before, added some water to it, then heated it up to give it to us children. It was breakfast that I had with my brother. I was so little, in the first grade. Having suffered, having seen the sacrifices of my parents gave me so much strength, always. Nothing came easily for me. I did not receive any favor from anyone, but I conquered everything.”
What was the first thing you gave your parents when you were able to do it?
“A house. I was 16 years old. The first few years of my career, I left all the money to my father and mother because they needed it. For me, playing football was enough. It was the best thing. I was thinking of nothing else. I just needed a PlayStation 3 or an Xbox to play with my brother. Nothing more. But the first thing I did when I signed that contract was to buy my parents a house. They raised me, allowed me to go to school. They suffered, worked hard… it was all for me. It was right for me to give back.”
What do you miss most about Africa?
“I am very sorry that my grandparents, who remained in Zaire, cannot live this moment of my life with me. It hurts. I had an excellent relationship with my mother’s father: it was he who pushed me to become a footballer. He told me one day that all the responsibility for the family was on my shoulders. And one week after that, he died of prostate cancer. I really miss him.”
How many languages do you know?
“Seven now. The one that I really studied was Spanish. For the past two years, it was mandatory for me to do three hours of Spanish a week. At the time, I was thinking of going to La Liga and therefore I had a Spanish teacher who taught me at home three hours a week. Thanks to him, I learned Spanish and that has opened up all doors for me and made it easy to know your language (Italian) too.”
We remember an interview with Sky in which you spoke Italian very well before coming to Italy…
“Yes, because playing in Serie A was one of my dreams. My brother was at Lazio and I saw his matches with Italian commentary. When I arrived at Inter, I understood everything but I didn’t speak well. So I asked the coach if he could speak to me only in Italian for two weeks. Then I started to feel confident.”
What do you like the most about football?
“Training, playing matches, everything. This is what I wanted to do as a child. My dream came true and now it is my job, my family depends on me. It is not the other way around anymore. Realizing your dream which then became your job and you have fun doing it is really the best feeling.”
How is Italy?
“Very nice. It is the best country that I have ever been to. I love being here. I like the people, their love and respect. I respect others and when I meet the fans I like talking to them, being around them. The Italians welcomed me very well, I am grateful to everyone. Italian football is one for me, it has allowed me to become a better footballer. I want to continue improving, I want to do even more for this team, the coach, the club and above all for the fans.”
Is the Scudetto possible?
“To me, the most important thing is to let the pitch do the talking. We have to play and play well for all 90 minutes. Off the pitch, I am not a person who talks a lot. I prefer to express myself when I play. But I want to give everything I can so that we can do well this year. For the good of Inter.”
Who is coach Conte to you?
“To me, he is a mentor, a father, a person who understands me really well. I also understand him and I am grateful to him for the esteem that he has always had for me. The first time he called me, which was six years ago, he already wanted to sign me. Playing for him is really the realization of a dream. When you look at the teams he has coached, you understand that you can, as an individual and also as a collective, learn and improve a lot. I improved last season, thanks to the coach and his staff. But we have to believe that this is only the beginning. We still need to improve and Conte is the right coach to do it.”
How important is the arrival of a player like Vidal?
“It is very important. He is a player of great quality. Last year, we did well but if we need to improve, we must have more quality and experience. Two qualities that Vidal has. You don’t win this much with many teams if you are not a quality player.”
In football, what does it take to become a leader?
“You must have a positive mentality, you must always try to be better than the day before and always help your teammates at all times. You must know how to suffer, to take responsibility, to share victories with others as well as defeats. Not only with teammates but with everyone in the team. A team also wins with those warehouse workers, with medical staff. We stay together, win or lose. To me, playing for Inter is a dream come true. I could never have imagined it. This is a great opportunity and I don’t take it lightly. I came here to do well, to leave my mark. Everyday when I wake up, I want to do everything I can to improve. I can play well or badly but when I step on that pitch I want to give everything. I’m also like that in training. The coach and teammates make fun of me because I get angry when I lose in a practice match. This is my way of playing football, of thinking about football. When this is no longer the case, I will stop.”
The defeat in the Europa League final…
“It was a difficult time for me. I didn’t speak for four days following the game. But one day I woke up and reasoned myself. In the past season, we were one point away from the Scudetto, lost in Italian Cup semifinals because we weren’t able to score one goal, then lost 3-2 in the final. Things like that happen and suffering can improve the team. Winning is all about effort, character, it is an analysis of one’s limits. You can lose, but only to learn how to win.”
What can be done more regarding racism?
“It exists in many leagues and throughout Europe. It’s absurd. Football is multicultural, multiethnic. In each team, there is a player of different nationality, of another color, of another religion. We must respect all of this. This is sport, this is life. It happened to me once in Italy, I reacted but then it never happened again. I love your country and your football. And the fans of every team respect me as a player and as a man. I don’t want to confuse three or three hundred individuals with thousands of fans and citizens. I am confident that the absurdity of racism is in the past.”
One problem in the world that you would like to solve.
“I would work to eliminate all the diseases. And also no more poverty. Equal rights for all.”
How is football without fans?
“Bad. You hear everything. Sometimes you should not hear what I have to say… Let’s hope that the fans can return to the stadiums soon and remain safe. We are doing well in Italy and I hope that fans will be able to return to the stands soon. Because football without fans is not real football.”
What is the difference between English and Italian football?
“Italian football is much more tactical. To play at certain levels you must be intelligent in your movement, in managing the ball, technically you have to be stronger because there is no space or time. A truly dangerous player, like Dybala, Lautaro and Ibrahimovic, often has three players around him when he has the ball. You have to work a lot. To me, the match is not prepared on the same day it takes place. If we play on Saturday, I start thinking about it on Wednesday. I would study how a defender plays, how he positions himself and how he reacts in certain situations. After training, I stay with the coach and his staff for another 15 to 20 minutes to do some simulation of the defense’s movements so I am prepared for any situation.”
Who is the best defender you have ever faced?
“All of them are good in Italy. Koulibaly is tough, I enjoy playing against him. There is also Klavan in Cagliari, Kumbulla who was at Verona or Bonucci or Romagnoli. All of them, however, must make extra effort when they face me. But this also applies to myself because I want to win and the better the defender the more it motivates me to do well. Playing against a good defender makes me better because it forces me to give everything and look for new solutions.”
In your career, who is the midfielder that gives you the best passes?
“No doubt, it’s De Bruyne. I’ve known him for 14 years, I know his qualities. It is on an unimaginable level.”
The best and worst day of your life.
“The most beautiful was when my son was born. Football is important but life is more important. The worst is the death of my mother’s dad: he was very close to us. We had so many difficulties at home, we lived on €500 a month. My mother is diabetic. He was important to me, as a guide. When he passed, it was the worst day. I miss him.”
If you can take one match shirt to a deserted island, what would that be?
“The shirt that I wore when I scored my first goal at 16. In that moment, I felt fulfilled. I realized that I could do it to change my family’s life. Scoring a goal at 16 can change everything. And it did for me.”
What is your best goal?
“When I was at Everton, I scored against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarterfinals in 2016. That goal was about power, but also of technique. My best two characteristics. There was everything in that goal. The following year, I scored a very good goal against Guardiola’s City. But the one versus Chelsea is the one that I’m attached to the most.”
Is there a young Italian player that you like?
“Barella will be a very important player for the national team and for Inter. He has improved a lot especially in the last six months. He is very impressive with the ball and also with his physicality and mentality. Esposito can also be an important player but he must play more. He can give a lot with more minutes and with the mentality that heh as. I also like Kean and Chiesa.”
What is football to you?
“Humility, desire to work, head strong, hunger. Must have the desire and hunger to win, to work hard, to enjoy it. Every moment of every game.”
Romelu Lukaku is a modern player. He has great physicality and technique for all to envy. He also has the personality of a leader and, at the same time, he is able to convey that he is a gentle giant. He scores wonderful goals and he is great harmony with coach Antonio Conte pretty much by nature. The squad of Inter is emerging, technical and powerful. Just look at the last couple of signings in the midfield in Arturo Vidal and Nicolo Barella (last year) and you will be able to tell this inspiration. Lukaku is kind, intelligent and witty. He is someone who is aware of everyone’s rights. He suffered in life and knows the value of being free. We (Gazzetta dello Sport) believe that his relationship with Italy will not be a short one. And that is fortunate for us all.
Can you tell us about the first football in your life?
“When I was one and a half years old. We were at home in Liege, Belgium, and since that day I have never left the ball. This is how my love for football began. My dad took me to his training sessions whenever he could. He left Zaire to play football in Belgium, arrived there in 1990 and played for ten years in their Serie A.”
Your family suffered financially.
“My dad had no luck with money. When he ended his career, he didn’t have a house because he wasn’t saving money. When he finished playing, I quickly realized that we were going to have serious financial difficulties. I immediately decided to be a footballer. I wanted to improve my family’s situation.”
Was that your toughest moment?
“Yes. I can never forget it. One day before going to school, I saw my mother make a gesture that I will always remember: she took the milk left over from the day before, added some water to it, then heated it up to give it to us children. It was breakfast that I had with my brother. I was so little, in the first grade. Having suffered, having seen the sacrifices of my parents gave me so much strength, always. Nothing came easily for me. I did not receive any favor from anyone, but I conquered everything.”
What was the first thing you gave your parents when you were able to do it?
“A house. I was 16 years old. The first few years of my career, I left all the money to my father and mother because they needed it. For me, playing football was enough. It was the best thing. I was thinking of nothing else. I just needed a PlayStation 3 or an Xbox to play with my brother. Nothing more. But the first thing I did when I signed that contract was to buy my parents a house. They raised me, allowed me to go to school. They suffered, worked hard… it was all for me. It was right for me to give back.”
What do you miss most about Africa?
“I am very sorry that my grandparents, who remained in Zaire, cannot live this moment of my life with me. It hurts. I had an excellent relationship with my mother’s father: it was he who pushed me to become a footballer. He told me one day that all the responsibility for the family was on my shoulders. And one week after that, he died of prostate cancer. I really miss him.”
How many languages do you know?
“Seven now. The one that I really studied was Spanish. For the past two years, it was mandatory for me to do three hours of Spanish a week. At the time, I was thinking of going to La Liga and therefore I had a Spanish teacher who taught me at home three hours a week. Thanks to him, I learned Spanish and that has opened up all doors for me and made it easy to know your language (Italian) too.”
We remember an interview with Sky in which you spoke Italian very well before coming to Italy…
“Yes, because playing in Serie A was one of my dreams. My brother was at Lazio and I saw his matches with Italian commentary. When I arrived at Inter, I understood everything but I didn’t speak well. So I asked the coach if he could speak to me only in Italian for two weeks. Then I started to feel confident.”
What do you like the most about football?
“Training, playing matches, everything. This is what I wanted to do as a child. My dream came true and now it is my job, my family depends on me. It is not the other way around anymore. Realizing your dream which then became your job and you have fun doing it is really the best feeling.”
How is Italy?
“Very nice. It is the best country that I have ever been to. I love being here. I like the people, their love and respect. I respect others and when I meet the fans I like talking to them, being around them. The Italians welcomed me very well, I am grateful to everyone. Italian football is one for me, it has allowed me to become a better footballer. I want to continue improving, I want to do even more for this team, the coach, the club and above all for the fans.”
Is the Scudetto possible?
“To me, the most important thing is to let the pitch do the talking. We have to play and play well for all 90 minutes. Off the pitch, I am not a person who talks a lot. I prefer to express myself when I play. But I want to give everything I can so that we can do well this year. For the good of Inter.”
Who is coach Conte to you?
“To me, he is a mentor, a father, a person who understands me really well. I also understand him and I am grateful to him for the esteem that he has always had for me. The first time he called me, which was six years ago, he already wanted to sign me. Playing for him is really the realization of a dream. When you look at the teams he has coached, you understand that you can, as an individual and also as a collective, learn and improve a lot. I improved last season, thanks to the coach and his staff. But we have to believe that this is only the beginning. We still need to improve and Conte is the right coach to do it.”
How important is the arrival of a player like Vidal?
“It is very important. He is a player of great quality. Last year, we did well but if we need to improve, we must have more quality and experience. Two qualities that Vidal has. You don’t win this much with many teams if you are not a quality player.”
In football, what does it take to become a leader?
“You must have a positive mentality, you must always try to be better than the day before and always help your teammates at all times. You must know how to suffer, to take responsibility, to share victories with others as well as defeats. Not only with teammates but with everyone in the team. A team also wins with those warehouse workers, with medical staff. We stay together, win or lose. To me, playing for Inter is a dream come true. I could never have imagined it. This is a great opportunity and I don’t take it lightly. I came here to do well, to leave my mark. Everyday when I wake up, I want to do everything I can to improve. I can play well or badly but when I step on that pitch I want to give everything. I’m also like that in training. The coach and teammates make fun of me because I get angry when I lose in a practice match. This is my way of playing football, of thinking about football. When this is no longer the case, I will stop.”
The defeat in the Europa League final…
“It was a difficult time for me. I didn’t speak for four days following the game. But one day I woke up and reasoned myself. In the past season, we were one point away from the Scudetto, lost in Italian Cup semifinals because we weren’t able to score one goal, then lost 3-2 in the final. Things like that happen and suffering can improve the team. Winning is all about effort, character, it is an analysis of one’s limits. You can lose, but only to learn how to win.”
What can be done more regarding racism?
“It exists in many leagues and throughout Europe. It’s absurd. Football is multicultural, multiethnic. In each team, there is a player of different nationality, of another color, of another religion. We must respect all of this. This is sport, this is life. It happened to me once in Italy, I reacted but then it never happened again. I love your country and your football. And the fans of every team respect me as a player and as a man. I don’t want to confuse three or three hundred individuals with thousands of fans and citizens. I am confident that the absurdity of racism is in the past.”
One problem in the world that you would like to solve.
“I would work to eliminate all the diseases. And also no more poverty. Equal rights for all.”
How is football without fans?
“Bad. You hear everything. Sometimes you should not hear what I have to say… Let’s hope that the fans can return to the stadiums soon and remain safe. We are doing well in Italy and I hope that fans will be able to return to the stands soon. Because football without fans is not real football.”
What is the difference between English and Italian football?
“Italian football is much more tactical. To play at certain levels you must be intelligent in your movement, in managing the ball, technically you have to be stronger because there is no space or time. A truly dangerous player, like Dybala, Lautaro and Ibrahimovic, often has three players around him when he has the ball. You have to work a lot. To me, the match is not prepared on the same day it takes place. If we play on Saturday, I start thinking about it on Wednesday. I would study how a defender plays, how he positions himself and how he reacts in certain situations. After training, I stay with the coach and his staff for another 15 to 20 minutes to do some simulation of the defense’s movements so I am prepared for any situation.”
Who is the best defender you have ever faced?
“All of them are good in Italy. Koulibaly is tough, I enjoy playing against him. There is also Klavan in Cagliari, Kumbulla who was at Verona or Bonucci or Romagnoli. All of them, however, must make extra effort when they face me. But this also applies to myself because I want to win and the better the defender the more it motivates me to do well. Playing against a good defender makes me better because it forces me to give everything and look for new solutions.”
In your career, who is the midfielder that gives you the best passes?
“No doubt, it’s De Bruyne. I’ve known him for 14 years, I know his qualities. It is on an unimaginable level.”
The best and worst day of your life.
“The most beautiful was when my son was born. Football is important but life is more important. The worst is the death of my mother’s dad: he was very close to us. We had so many difficulties at home, we lived on €500 a month. My mother is diabetic. He was important to me, as a guide. When he passed, it was the worst day. I miss him.”
If you can take one match shirt to a deserted island, what would that be?
“The shirt that I wore when I scored my first goal at 16. In that moment, I felt fulfilled. I realized that I could do it to change my family’s life. Scoring a goal at 16 can change everything. And it did for me.”
What is your best goal?
“When I was at Everton, I scored against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarterfinals in 2016. That goal was about power, but also of technique. My best two characteristics. There was everything in that goal. The following year, I scored a very good goal against Guardiola’s City. But the one versus Chelsea is the one that I’m attached to the most.”
Is there a young Italian player that you like?
“Barella will be a very important player for the national team and for Inter. He has improved a lot especially in the last six months. He is very impressive with the ball and also with his physicality and mentality. Esposito can also be an important player but he must play more. He can give a lot with more minutes and with the mentality that heh as. I also like Kean and Chiesa.”
What is football to you?
“Humility, desire to work, head strong, hunger. Must have the desire and hunger to win, to work hard, to enjoy it. Every moment of every game.”
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10 years of FIFAlmost stop reading here for nobody envies the first touch of staggered hyppo
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10 years of FIFI fucking love this guy
Last edited:
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- Mancini
10 years of FIFNothing to be upset about. lukaku is strength and speed. Technical skills are 50/50. Provide enough opportunities over the season and he will score. Don't expect more from a finishing perspective. We literally got the best last season.
We just need Conte to balance the focus of the attack from 100% lukaku to maybe 70-30 or 60-40 lukaku.
We just need Conte to balance the focus of the attack from 100% lukaku to maybe 70-30 or 60-40 lukaku.
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10 years of FIF
Nostradamus
Most Passionate MemberGood game????????
Our defense is shit, Brozovic is all over the place, Young was abysmal yet I stil cannot see how anyone could argue that Lukaku wasn't the worst of the pitch
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10 years of FIFNostradamusMost Passionate Member