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Romelu Lukaku reveals reaction when Man Utd's Jose Mourinho hijacked his Chelsea transfer
Romelu Lukaku has revealed how a phone call from Jose Mourinho stopped him from returning to Chelsea and he moved to Manchester United instead.
Former Manchester United hitman Romelu Lukaku has revealed Jose Mourinho stopped him from re-joining Chelsea two years ago.
The Blues were interested in bringing the Belgium international back to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2017 to bolster their attacking options.
The west Londoners, however, were pipped to the then Everton's man signature by United, who splashed out £75million to acquire his services.
Lukaku’s decision to join Manchester United over Chelsea perplexed many as it was Mourinho who sanctioned his loan move and eventual sale to Everton in August 2013 after he missed a penalty in the 2013 European Super Cup final.
Inter Milan’s newest signing reflected on his move to Old Trafford during an appearance on the LightHarted podcast and revealed a late intervention from Mourinho convinced him to snub a return to west London.
“I was gone, I was going to Chelsea," Lukaku said on the LightHarted podcast. "I was looking for an apartment, an apartment for my mum to stay in close to the practice facility, so I don't have to drive too far. And then Man U came.
"At Man U everybody was... I felt the trust more, where everybody wanted me to be there and that's the true story.
"People say 'Yeah, my agent (Mino Raiola)' and stuff like that - my former agent at the time - he did his job, he got the best opportunity for me, but the people wanted me the most and that was Man U. Everybody was wanting me. There was no doubting.
I'm gonna get you back, we're gonna pay £75m plus £15m in bonuses (add-ons) by next week, so I expect you in LA
"They came and they told me - I was in New York - I get a phone call from this number and I'm like, 'Who's this?' Pick up, Jose Mourinho. 'Rom, how are you doing?' I'm like, 'Yeah, what's up, boss?'
"'I'm gonna get you back, we're gonna pay £75m plus £15m in bonuses (add-ons) by next week, so I expect you in LA.
"So go and do your s*** in LA and I'll see you after [in pre-season]'. I felt the dude was lying, like 'I'll see you'.
"Then the next thing I know, I wake up and had to go back to Everton on the July 7 and July 6, I wake up in the morning and I see they've agreed the deal, so I'm like, 'Man! They came in hard!'”
Although he was happy to have joined United, Lukaku did eventually confront Mourinho over his decision to send him out on loan.
He said: “When [I was at United], I remember we were in Moscow two years ago, we played CSKA, I told him, “Yo man, I wanted to kill your arse so bad” and we laughed about it.
“Me and Jose our relationship is… everybody has their own personal relationship with him, but me and him we bump heads.
“We bump heads, but I love him as a man. I think he loves me as a man, but we bump heads all the time. All the time.
“He might be picking on me, but then I’ll be picking on him.
"But he’s my guy, for sure, he’s my guy.”
Lukaku left Manchester United for Inter Milan last week in a deal believed to be in the region of £73million.
He’s expected to make his full debut for the Italians on Monday night when they welcome Lecce to the San Siro.