Lukaku, in limbo in London: everyone ignores him and trains, waiting to leave

Cobham & Stoke d’Abernon’s little station feels like an old place, with its red bricks more representative of industrial revolution than the 21st century. Next to Platform 2, the one where the not-so-modern trains arrive from London and continue towards Guildford, is a wooden gate hidden near the trees that leads to a kind of parallel universe: the Chelsea Training Centre. The one where today Romelu Lukaku returned to the life he decided he would never return to: the life of a blues player. Generally indifferent, because there was not even a fan to welcome him.

return

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Neither Chelsea nor Lukaku wanted this situation. When the Blues decided to entrust the bench to Mauricio Pochettino to re-launch him after his worst season ever in the Premier League, the Belgian was still playing at Inter and said several times that he would do anything to return, because London is not what he wants. to know more. And he didn’t change his mind even when the Blues asked him if he’d be willing to try again. Instead, he changed his mind about where he wanted to play, and this made his return to Cobham inevitable. Chelsea tried in every possible way to avoid it: at first they expected it on Wednesday, July 12, and then, seeing that negotiations with Inter seemed to be in the making, they postponed the return to Monday the 17th and until today, by mutual agreement with the player. They were all convinced that it would have been a formality, a bond due to a contract player that did not fit into the club’s plans. However, when Lukaku changed his mind, he confined himself to this oblivion, training alone or almost alone in the center of Cobham, while 29 players from Chelsea, Pochettino and all the management in the USA, participated in a tour in which they will not participate. Back before the beginning of August. When everyone hopes that Lukaku will get out of this predicament and establish a new team.

suitors

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Juventus and Al Hilal remain after the withdrawal of Inter. Chelsea don’t care which of the two Lukaku plays, as long as someone comes and takes him with at least €40m. The offer is black and white, to be exact, but it’s contingent on Dusan Vlahovic selling by August 4th. Lukaku is waiting now, sure his place is still in the great European football, preferably in Italy despite protests from Juventus fans and accusations of “treason” on the part of the Nerazzurri. He will continue to train in the next few days with the other Blues plus players (Hakim Ziyech and Pierre Aubameyang, who seems very close to Marseille) and with all the players who were excluded from the tour for physical reasons. Waiting for the crucial call to arrive from his agent. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal continue to tempt him: they have 50m ready for Chelsea, and could raise the player’s offer to 30m a season if Lukaku gives the nod. But in the meantime, Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Serbian from Fulham, is working on Plan B, eager to go to Arabia and monetize a stellar season in the Premier League with the richest contract of his career. The Kochans don’t hear us at the moment and they said no twice, but if the Saudis get to 50 million, they can give up. With all due respect to Lukaku.

camel

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Meanwhile, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Pochettino told Chelsea’s version. “We are in this situation because we are all in agreement, – explained the coach. – The club will find the best solution for everyone, but it is clear that the decision we made has been supported by the players. We are all in the position we want to be in.” His attitude is always the same: Lukaku has decided he doesn’t want to be part of Chelsea and never will be. “We are happy with the players we have here in the United States,” said Pochettino, who in his first American press conference had to deal above all with an injury that may have already hurt Wesley Fofana’s season. Lukaku is still on his hook for the time being, training at Cobham where he never hoped to return. Waiting for Juventus to find the money to buy it. Or that the Arab show, as long as it remains on the plate, will become absolutely indispensable