Romelu Lukaku believes Manchester United move – and some help from God – will see him become world’s best striker
Everton striker on verge of sealing sensational move to Old Trafford for Jose Mourinho interest despite Chelsea interest
ROMELU LUKAKU is convinced God is taking him on a journey that can make him the world’s No 1 striker.
And if that comes across as a show of arrogance from the frontman then, for him, so be it.
Despite the fact Manchester United are paying £75MILLION plus £15m in possible add-ons for his services Lukaku, 24, has always had his critics.
He remains unpopular with large sections of Belgian fans when he plays for his country.
Even last season as he became the first Evertonian since Gary Lineker in 1986 to score 20–plus top-flight goals he was often a target for the Goodison support.
They took exception to his refusal to sign a new £130,000 per week contract as he accused the club of “living in the past” and lacking the ambition to go for the big trophies.
Jose Mourinho, remember, sold him during his second stint as manager of Chelsea even if the Portuguese is clearly now a big fan. But religious Lukaku has never lost faith in himself.
He believes all the flak he has received is just another obstacle to be overcome in the journey that began as a six-year-old with his ex–striker dad Roger.
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Asked about the fact that he has so far never been seen as one of the game’s top strikers he said: “I do not know. It’s my destiny. Last summer I said at some point: ‘Even if I score 30 or 40 goals I will still get criticism’.
“But I have to stay on this road I am on that has been set for me. I believe in God and I believe He has set that path for me.”
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez — who signed Lukaku for £28m in 2014 when he was still boss of Everton — has insisted he has what it takes to become the best No 9 in the world.
Lukaku wastes no time in agreeing with that view — although he stresses he is not being big–headed.
He added: “Yes, I agree, it can be. There is nothing wrong with ambition. I have already gone a long way, but also have a long way to go.
“I know I need to get better every day. That’s the challenge and I love that challenge. People sometimes confuse ambition with arrogance. But I just want to win titles and prizes.
Raiola recipe for pizza the action
MINO RAIOLA used to make pizzas — now he is taking a huge slice of the world’s biggest transfers.
The Italian-born Dutch super-agent, 49, first worked at his parents’ Italian restaurant in Haarlem in Holland.
And he saw serving football clients as the chance to work his way into the game.
Raiola has brokered the deals for four Manchester United players over the past 12 months — Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and now Romelu Lukaku.
The deal to sign Pogba from Juventus for £89million last summer was understood to have earned Raiola £20m and he is set for another windfall with the capture of the Frenchman’s pal Lukaku from Everton in this transfer window.
Raiola’s influence across the global game is undeniable and that is helped by the fact he speaks seven languages — Italian, English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Dutch.
“If you want to be the best, you must win prizes. Young children must learn that and I have been learning that since I was a child.
“So I work hard. I try to work a lot more than the others, every day. It’s when I’m tired that I know that I’m taking advantage of work in training.
“I work a lot harder than others and therefore I keep improving. That’s why I can now be a top scorer.”
It was as a child his ‘big-time’ education began under his father, who played Belgian First Division football as well as in the World Cup with Zaire.
One of the things Roger Lukaku warned his son about was the pressure of being a big star.
When he pitches up at Old Trafford next season, medical permitting, Lukaku believes that his dad’s advice will stand him in good stead.
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As perhaps the most expensive signing of this summer he will be under more pressure to produce having collected 53 goals in 110 Premier League appearances for Everton.
United boss Mourinho has spent a huge amount of money to see more of the same. The pressure will be on Lukaku now like never before.
But even if a new section of fans get on his back he knows he can handle the stress saying: “I have always been able to do that and protect myself from any criticism. My father prepared me for it since I was six years old.
“I always asked him what it was like to be proficient and he always told me how it was. For me, this is nothing new. I’m just living with it.
“This is my way and the most important thing is that I help my team. The rest? That’s just part of the game.”