Lukaku: 'Inter's journey this year is like a treble season'
Overcoming the same city club Milan with a total score of 3-0 in the semi-finals, Inter entered the Champions League final for the first time since the historic 2009-2010 season. At that time, the team under Mourinho beat Bayern in the closing match, after taking over both Serie A and the Italian Cup, thereby becoming the first Italian club to win three in a season.
Answering CNN on June 5, Lukaku was asked about the spirit of Inter and the similarities between the current squad and the team that made history 13 years ago. "Honestly, everything is very similar," replied the Belgian striker. "The funny thing is many players from the Inter generation in 2010 come to see the games this season and feel the same way."
In the summer of 2022, Inter borrowed Lukaku from Chelsea on a one-year contract for a fee of $8.3 million, with no mandatory purchase clause in the summer of 2023. The Belgian striker accepted to reduce his income by nearly half and received the number 90 shirt at Chelsea. Italian Club.
At the beginning of the season, Lukaku was constantly absent due to fitness and injury. By the end of March 2023, he had only scored three goals in Serie A and two in the Champions League. But Lukaku found form in the last two months, returning to the starting line-up and scoring eight goals in all competitions.
Lukaku is happy to be back at Inter after a successful first period at Giuseppe Meazza. From 2019 to 2021, the Belgian striker scored 64 goals in 95 matches, helping Inter win Serie A 2020-2021 and reach the final of the Europa League 2019-2020, where they lost to Sevilla 2-3 by Lukaku's own counter-decision kick. .
"It was an emotional time, because we were really a team and spent a lot of time together," said the 30-year-old striker. "Back then, I actually spent more time with my teammates than with my eldest son. We played games, went to the hotel, stayed in the video room, that kind of thing."
Lukaku burst into tears when talking about his late grandfather - whom he praised as his biggest inspiration. The Belgian international also said that when he was young, he and his family could not afford to watch Champions League matches on television. Therefore, he is proud and determined with Inter to defeat Man City in the closing match at Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul on June 10.
"I couldn't watch the Champions League final, but now, thanks to God, I can play live," said Lukaku. "Being here, with my family by my side, is wonderful. I have promised to take care of my mother since I was 12 years old. That's why I always look at her in the stands every time I score a goal. My grandfather is a huge fan. my best, and I always think of him every time I see my son."
Lukaku also praised Erling Haaland - the striker broke the Premier League scoring record to win the European Golden Shoe in his first season with Man City. "I think Haaland and Kylian Mbappe will dominate world football for the next 10 years," said Lukaku. "They will fight the new generation. They will really take over from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the next two years."
