Romelu Lukaku chose Manchester United over Chelsea last summer (Picture: Getty)Everton co-owner Farhad Moshiri claims Romelu Lukaku rejected a new deal to stay at Goodison Park last summer because he wanted to join Chelsea.
The Belgian was wanted by both Chelsea and Manchester United last summer and ended up moving to Old Trafford for £75million.
United captain Wayne Rooney moved to Goodison Park on a free in the week before Lukaku moved the other way and his arrival at Old Trafford was seen as a huge coup for Jose Mourinho’s men.
Chelsea responded by sealing a move for Alvaro Morata within a fortnight but Moshiri claims Lukaku wanted to move to Stamford Bridge and his mother had a role in the decision.
‘With Romelu I wasted two summers trying to keep him. I spoke to him, his agent, his mother,’ said Moshiri.
‘We tried to offer him a better offer than Chelsea. He wanted to play for Chelsea though – at that time.
‘The money that agents can get from players moving club is immense and nothing has to be disclosed. Bill [Kenwright] has been like a father to many players, but ultimately it’s the agents they rely on.
‘If I tell you what we offered him, you won’t believe it, and we offered him an even better deal.
‘His agent came to Finch Farm to sign the contract then Lukaku phones his mother and ‘there was a pilgrimage to Africa and some sort of voodoo that says he had to sign for Chelsea’. What can you do?
‘He’d gone to LA and wouldn’t go back, his brain had gone. Luis Suarez had to bite a few players to get his move.’
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