Romelu Lukaku reveals Manchester United move was sealed by their Europa League triumph
Belgian striker was free to snub Chelsea and join his No1 choice after they sealed Champions League qualification
MANCHESTER UNITED’S Europa League triumph paved the way for them to land Romelu Lukaku.
He had been a target for Premier League champions Chelsea after Antonio Conte earmarked him as Diego Costa's replacement.
But United’s victory over Ajax meant he could move to his first-choice club and complete his ambition of playing in the Champions League.
Lukaku said: “I have been a pro for eight years and I have never had a taste of the Champions League group stages.
"It is something I have always wanted, that competition has something, I want to see how it is and to have a taste.
“Now to have that opportunity and to challenge to win it is the best thing.
"We are going to be prepared and we are all going to work hard in these upcoming weeks so we are prepared to challenge for the trophies.
“Obviously the World Cup is nice and the Euros is really nice as well, but I have always dreamed of the Champions League.
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“With the World Cup, with Belgium at the time when I was a kid, you never knew if you had the chance to win it but now we have a talented generation.
"But with Manchester United, we can challenge every year to win the Champions League.
“The club is in a rebuilding process and the manager is doing the right things to take the club back to where it belongs. That is the exciting part.”
Lukaku trained with new teammates yesterday in sweltering 100 degree heat in Los Angeles at their UCLA training base.
He signed autographs for waiting fans and was clearly excited by the new challenge ahead of him.
He said: “I can’t wait to start, to be with the team, the manager, and to start a new part of my life.
“The history, the players that play for the club and the way that the club is always hungry to win trophies, it is something that I want and it is something that I was searching for.”
Lukaku signed a five-year deal with the option for a further year on wages of £250,000 a week.
The striker has now vowed to work harder than ever to be a hit with the United faithful.
He added: “I just want to improve constantly. I don’t want to have time to be complacent. I want to become better every single day and I work as hard as I can.
“If you play for a big club then you have to act like a big player, and perform week in and week out.
“That is the challenge that I wanted. I am at the age where I have to make the next step.
“This club is there to help me, but I am a team player and I want to win trophies. That is the most important thing. Trophies before everything.
"So if I can help my teammates to do that then I will be delighted.
“For me it was the perfect opportunity to make the big step and as a club, when Manchester United comes and asks you to play for them then you do not say no."
