With Romelu Lukaku's loan stint at Inter Milan set to end once the season concludes, the Italian giants' CEO has revealed what their plan for the forward is.
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The 29-year-old has endured a tumultuous two years. While it seemed Belgium's all-time top goalscorer would continue his ascent once Chelsea signed him for a club-record fee at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, it has been far from plain sailing for Lukaku ever since.
The Antwerp-born striker scored just 15 goals in 44 games for the Blues in that campaign, and couple that with the fact that he overtly criticised then-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel's tactics and publicly expressed his desire to return to Serie A, the attacker's return to west London was both underwhelming and marred with controversy.
At the start of this campaign Lukaku did get his wish as he returned to the San Siro for a season-long loan with the Nerazzurri, but according to club CEO Beppe Marotta, the Anderlecht academy product will not be staying in Milan when the season is over. Instead, he will return to his parent club before the 19-time Scudetto winners decide if they want the forward back on a permanent basis.
"Talking about it now would be premature," Inter's CEO told Sky Sport Italia regarding a potential permanent transfer.
"In June, he'll return to Chelsea and then it will be a new scenario before us, and we'll see what we can do.
"He wants to stay, so definitely knowing what he wants, we'll see if we're able to go back to negotiations and negotiate a return here with us for next season."
While Lukaku played an integral role in Inter ending the Juventus monopoly in the 2020/21 season, the pacey forward's latest campaign has suffered because of injuries.
Having started the past three league matches for the club, though, he could perhaps salvage his loan in the last stretch of the campaign as Inter look to secure UEFA Champions League football for next season.
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