Romelu Lukaku joins Everton: Jose Mourinho reveals Lukaku was sold because 'he lacked motivation to fight for place'

Lukaku completed a £28m move to Everton with Chelsea already bringing in Didier Drogba and Diego Costa this summer

Simon Rice,Staff
Thursday 31 July 2014 19:05 BST
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Jose Mourinho claims he sold Romelu Lukaku because he lacked the motivation to fight for his place
Jose Mourinho claims he sold Romelu Lukaku because he lacked the motivation to fight for his place

Jose Mourinho has taken a parting shot at Romelu Lukaku after the striker completed a £28m move to Everton.

The Belgium international became the Toffees' club-record signing yesterday when he moved to the club he spent last season on loan with. The 21-year-old signed a five-year deal at Goodison Park having proven his ability last season with 16 goals in 33 appearances.

During his three years as a Chelsea player, Lukaku played just 15 times and appeared to have a frosty relationship with manager Jose Mourinho, heightened after disagreements about his loan spell last summer and then where his future lay in the long term.

Lukaku admitted that he did not speak to the Portuguese manager before completing his transfer but the Chelsea boss has since spoke publicly about why he saw fit to let the striker leave, citing the player's motivation as a factor.

"Romelu was always clear that in his mentality and his approach he was not highly motivated to come to a competitive situation at Chelsea," Mourinho said in the Daily Mirror.

"He wanted to play for Chelsea, but clearly only as first-choice striker - and at a club of our dimension it's very difficult to promise a player that status.

"That reduced immediately his desire to come to us. After that, Everton came with an important offer and because we want to be inside Financial Fair Play rules, you have to analyse these situations."

Lukaku started last season at Stamford Bridge but missed a decisive penalty in the Super Cup against Bayern Munich on 30 August, after which he asked to leave Chelsea. He was swiftly loaned to Everton.

Chelsea have made a profit on transfer fees for Lukaku and, while there might be some disappointment that he never became a first-team regular there, there was a sense at Chelsea that he put too much pressure on himself to succeed. The teenage Chelsea fan who idolised Didier Drogba was overcome by emotion when first shown around Stamford Bridge.

Speaking after his switch to Everton, Lukaku revealed: "I spoke with my agent and then from that moment on I left it up to him as I was on holiday.

"I made my decision and then didn't speak too much about it."

Asked whether he had spoken to Mourinho at all immediately before his departure he added: "No - I think he was busy with the game (against Vitesse Arnhem on Wednesday night).

"Chelsea is a big club and sometimes it is difficult for young players to come through. I want to have a good career and I didn't want to spend 10 years on the bench, I wanted to make the best out of every year.

"This is a club with a lot of ambition and it's the right place to be. You don't have to have regrets in football. Choices have to be made.

"Roberto Martinez will be one of the top managers in the world and for me to work under him now is the best thing that could happen for me."

Lukaku made his loan move to Everton permanent

Martinez was a key figure in persuading Lukaku to return and the board to break the bank to secure him and Lukaku admits things were totally different during his loan spell compared to his experience at Stamford Bridge.

"I don't have hard feelings against Chelsea. They gave me the opportunity to come to England," he said.

"But last year was a very good year and after a short period of time I had the feeling it was the best place to grow as a young footballer.

"The manager has been very influential. He is someone who knows football, someone who I can develop under as a player and make us better as a team - and that is something I need as a young footballer.

"I needed to be in the place where it felt right and here I have the confidence of all the technical staff, the trust of the supporters as well and I can grow and develop.

"I have a very good relationship with the players and staff so for me this is the place where I belong."

Martinez said they had worked long and hard to get the deal together but it was more than worth it.

"It is not just one of those important days for the season but it is a very significant day in the history of our football club," he said.

"It is fair to say Romelu was our number one target to bring in and the pursuit was relentless but it had to be a record transfer and it is worth every single penny and effort we put behind it."

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