Official! Romelu Lukaku Reunion Again With Jose Mourinho

The new AS Roma player, Romelu Lukaku. (Photo: Twitter/@OfficialASRoma)

JAKARTA Romelu Lukaku has agreed to join Italian giant AS Roma. He moved with a one-season loan deal from Chelsea.

The 30-year-old returned to Serie A after spending last season on loan with Inter Milan, where he successfully helped the club reach the European Champions League final.

Lukaku moved to Rome after reportedly rejecting the offer to move to the Saudi Pro League.

"The welcome given by the club and fans makes me very happy and is a push forward to give everything for my new team," Lukaku said, quoted by BBC Sport.

Lukaku is expected to receive a pay cut to reunite with his former coach Jose Mourinho in Rome.

Mourinho had handled Lukaku in 2013/2014 when they were both at Chelsea. The Portuguese coach then brought the player to Manchester United from Everton in 2017 for a transfer fee of 75 million.

"I had the opportunity to talk to the club owner in recent days and I was amazed by their ambitions," said Lukaku.

"Now we have to work, be humble and evolve from game to game. For me, I can't wait to make myself available to my teammates, on and off the pitch."

After a permanent move of 74 million to Inter from United in 2019, Lukaku rejoined Chelsea for a transfer value of 97.5 million in 2021.

However, at Chelsea he didn't get many minutes to play and hasn't played for the Blues since May 2022.

Lukaku did not participate with Chelsea on their pre-season tour in the United States. Although he still has three years left on his contract, he is not part of Mauricio Pochettino's new manager plan for 2023/2024.

Lukaku has previously won the Belgian title with Anderlecht, the FA Cup and Club World Cup with Chelsea, as well as the Scudetto, Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup with Inter.