Former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has made a shocking revelation about his final days at Stamford Bridge, accusing the club of making him look bad in public and mishandling his departure. The Belgian, who is currently leading Napoli’s title charge in Serie A, opened up about his Chelsea exit and the treatment he received in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.

Lukaku, who was frozen out of the Chelsea squad last summer, revealed that he was forced to change in the youth dressing rooms alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hakim Ziyech as the club pushed them towards the exit door.

“The first time I wasn’t alone, Aubameyang and Ziyech were also outside of the Chelsea project. They made us change in the youth dressing room. We waited for weeks, giving up numerous options.”

The 31-year-old striker, who was sent on loan to Napoli, claimed that Chelsea deliberately controlled the transfer situation to dictate his future and painted him in a negative light through the media.

Chelsea’s Transfer Tactics

Lukaku did not hold back when discussing how his exit was handled, claiming that players are often left with little control over their own futures.

“This is business. The club says I don’t want you anymore and decides when and often where you will end up. But if you want to leave, and for serious reasons, you don’t have the chance to do so. They take you to the last minute, they wear you out.”

The Belgian also suggested that Chelsea worked with the media to damage his reputation, a move that further complicated his situation.

“The clubs have relationships with the press and it doesn’t take much to put the player in difficulty, to convey the wrong image. Believe me, I’ve seen things I never thought I’d see. One day I’d like to clarify all these aspects to the younger ones, explaining who works for them and who works against them.”

No Hate Towards Inter Milan

During the interview, Lukaku also addressed his controversial departure from Inter Milan before his return to Chelsea in 2021. Many Inter fans turned against him after he left, but the striker insisted he never had any animosity towards the club.

“I have never hated Inter, never. If anyone spoke, especially in that period, that someone wasn’t me.”

In the Best Shape of His Career?

Now at Napoli, Lukaku believes he is in better physical condition than during his time at Inter Milan, despite a minor drop in weight.

“I’m better now than I was then. At Inter, I was one hundred and one kilos, here in Naples ninety-nine. But my ideal weight is one hundred and two. Ninety-nine, and I don’t know why.”

Lukaku’s Season So Far

Despite a solid individual season with nine goals and seven assists in Serie A, Napoli’s inconsistent form has left them playing catch-up in the title race. The defending champions currently sit second in the table and will need a major turnaround to stay in contention.

While Lukaku appears happy in Naples, his recent comments serve as a reminder of the frustrations he endured at Chelsea. His words suggest that his Stamford Bridge exit was far from amicable, and his criticism of the club’s handling of players could raise further questions about Chelsea’s transfer strategy in recent years.