‘He didn’t feel like a king at Chelsea’ – Crespo has backed player’s decision to leave Chelsea

Romelu Lukaku and Thomas Tuchel
Photo: Visionhaus//Getty Images

Former Argentina star Hernan Crespo has supported Romelu Lukaku’s decision to return to Inter Milan.

The Belgium star failed to impress after his £97.5 move to Chelsea last summer.

Lukaku was the star man at Chelsea, but failed to live up to the billing at Chelsea, with just 8 Premier League goals all season.

The 29-year-old has now sealed a return to Inter Milan on a season-long loan deal, which has got the Inter fans feeling upbeat.

Crespo has a similar story to Lukaku, having featured for both clubs after joining Claudio Ranieri’s Chelsea from Inter in 2003.

Crespo has fully backed Lukaku’s decision to return, revealing that he also ‘hurried’ a move back to Milan as soon as he could. 

According to Crespo, Lukaku was treated as a king at Inter, but not so at Chelsea.

“Lukaku decided to return – at Inter he felt like a king, at Chelsea he didn’t,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“So it’s a matter of love and heart. And when it comes to the heart, it almost always ends well. 

“I also decided to return to Italy because I felt comfortable in Serie A, less in the Premier League.

“I was already in love with Milan, with Italian football, with Serie A. And then, for a footballer, Milan is really the best, there is a unique passion there. 

“After the season at Chelsea, Ancelotti wanted me to be at Milan: I hurried there. 

“But at the end of the season, and saddened by the loss in the Champions League final in Istanbul, I returned to Chelsea.”