Man United striker Romelu Lukaku 'seeking legal advice' over Farhad Moshiri's 'voodoo' remarks

On Tuesday night, Moshiri claimed Lukaku was finally persuaded to cut ties with Everton altogether after receiving a phone call from his mother, who was on “a pilgrimage in Africa”.

Lukaku’s mother, who is of Congolese descent, was then said to have convinced her son to leave. “He had a voodoo and he got the message that he needs to go to Chelsea,” Moshiri said.

Though Chelsea were initially the favourites to sign the Belgium international, Lukaku eventually decided to sign for United in a £75m deal last summer.

On Wednesday, a representative for Lukaku told BBC Sport that Moshiri’s remarks were inaccurate and said that the 24-year-old, who is a Catholic, is seeking legal counsel.

“Romelu’s decision had nothing to do with voodoo,” the representative said. ”He distances himself from these beliefs and this statement and will now see what judicial steps can be taken in relation to them.”

Moshiri was speaking at Everton’s AGM, held with shareholders at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool. When asked why the club had sold Lukaku, the British-Iranian businessman claimed the club tried everything in its power to keep the player.

“If I tell you what we offered him you wouldn’t believe it,” Moshiri said. ”We offered him a better deal than Chelsea and his agent came to Finch Farm to sign the contract.

“Robert [Elstone, Everton’s chief executive] was there, everything was in place, there were a few reporters outside, then in the meeting Rom called his mother.

“He said she was on a pilgrimage in Africa or somewhere and he had a voodoo and he got the message that he needs to go to Chelsea.”​