Sport Features

REBORN Romelu Lukaku has finally made the move back to Chelsea from Inter Milan.The Belgium star, 28, was desperate for a move to Stamford Bridge this summer and made the switch on Thursday for a club record fee of £97.5m on a reported contract of £325,000-per-week.
Romelu Lukaku has completed his £97.5m move to Chelsea
The Belgium forward has returned to Stamford Bridge and has unfinished business with the clubCredit: Instagram @romelulukaku
Lukaku is said to have inked a contract worth around £325,000-per-week
Lukaku believes he has unfinished business in the Premier League, after failing to establish himself in West London first time round.
The powerful centre forward has rejuvenated his career in Serie A – scoring 64 goals in two seasons to become one of the world’s most feared strikers.
He’s come a long way since his tough childhood growing up in Antwerp, Belgium.
When his father was sentenced to 15 months in jail for assaulting a woman and keeping her in the boot of his car, a claim he strenuously denied, the family were forced to live in social housing.
It was left to mum Adolphine to support the family, who took on cleaning jobs to make ends meet.
LUKAKU’S TORMENT
Lukaku is believed have a fortune of around £40million today.
However in 2013, his life was very different. His dad Roger was alleged to have assaulted a former lover and kept her in the boot of his car, although he accused her of lying.
He was sentenced to 15-months inside for failing to attend his trial, but claimed he missed his summons because he had moved to a different area of Brussels and wasn’t registered at his new address.
Roger was forced to retire as a professional footballer and the family were left broke with their bread-winner locked up for 15 months.
The Lukakus were moved from their home to social housing in Antwerp, where they were stuck without electricity and slept on the floor.
Romelu’s dad Roger Lukaku was sentenced to jail after allegedly assaulting a womanCredit: Getty – Contributor
Lukaku endured a tough childhood and was raised by his motherCredit: Twitter @RomeluLukaku9
Adolphine Lukaku, right, took on various jobs to support her family when her husband was sent to prisonCredit: Rex
Today, Lukaku leads a very different life thanks to a glittering football career
“When my father stopped playing we landed in a hole financially. People left us to fend for ourselves, and I have always kept that in my mind,” Lukaku said.
“Everything changed for us inside two months. I remember everything – I was five or six, had just begun playing football, and then my dad retired.
“We didn’t have a TV or even electricity at home. We were then evicted from our flat, and we moved to Antwerp.
“In the beginning we didn’t even have curtains on the windows. We slept on the floor, with my mum, brother Jordan and me upstairs and my dad on the ground floor.
“I had to stop playing football, as my father wasn’t able to drop me off for training.
“My mother became diabetic, and her health was not good. I went to live with my aunt for a while until my mum returned home.
“My mother is the boss. I make decisions about my football career without asking her, but she is my source of inspiration for everything else.
“She worked her fingers to the bone for us. Despite her illness she would work as a cleaner in homes and cafes.
“Jordan and I used to get the bus to training with Rupel Boom, and then go on to where she was working in Antwerp. We’d mostly help her move tables in the cafes she cleaned.
“On my sixth birthday I told her I would play for Anderlecht, so I could help her with money.”
A BOY’S PROMISE
Lukaku was adamant he would do anything he could to support his family.
He played for local team Rupel Boom, before moving to Lierse and then Anderlecht in 2006.
Lukaku towers over a referee and opposition player before a youth gameCredit: Social media
Many people watching Lukaku at youth level didn’t believe his age because of his sizeCredit: Social media
Lukaku poses with brother Jordan, who is also a professional footballer at LazioCredit: Twitter @RomeluLukaku9
Although he moved around as a youngster, one thing that was a constant was he was always the biggest player on the pitch.
His agent Mino Raiola revealed how people watching him at youth level didn’t believe he was his age and his mum used to bring his birth certificate to youth games.
“I was talking to his mother. Eventually she went to youth matches with birth certificate,” Raiola said in an interview back in 2017 to Swedish newspaper Expressen.
“She always ended up with other parents who did not think he was 12 or 14 years old. It was always a fuss that he scored three or four goals.
“He was bigger and physically strong, yes. But they screamed that it was not in the right age.
“So she took the birth certificate. He was born in Belgium, but they spread false reports he been born in Africa. ‘Here it is’, she said.”
A STAR IS BORN
A talent beyond his years, Lukaku became a regular for Anderlecht at just 16 – scoring 41 goals in 98 games for the club.
Chelsea splashed £17million on the teenager and signed him up on a five-year contract.
But with Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge all vying for a starting place in the side, Lukaku found first team opportunities hard to come by.
Despite the Blues winning the Champions League in his debut campaign, he was left disheartened by his own personal involvement.
As a youth star at Anderlecht, Lukaku was primed for the first teamCredit: Instagram @rlukaku9
Lukaku exploded onto the scene at 16 at AnderlechtCredit: Reuters
In 2011, Lukaku signed for Chelsea in £17millionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
As a bit-part player Lukaku became frustrated at Stamford BridgeCredit: A
“It wasn’t me, but my team that won,” he said refusing to hold the trophy on the Allianz Arena turf after the famous penalty shootout win over Bayern Munich.
It would be elsewhere in England he would find success.
A LOAN TO PROVE HIMSELF
Chelsea were, at first, reluctant to lose Lukaku and insisted he went on loan to gain valuable first team experience. And he thrived away from SW6.
He ended the 2012-13 campaign with West Brom with a respectable 17 league goals.
Then at Everton, he followed that with a decent 15 strikes – helping the Toffees finish fifth and record their highest ever Premier League points total, 72.
It was no surprise that manager Roberto Martinez paid Chelsea £28million to make the deal permanent.
In his next three seasons, Lukaku would go on to score 20, 25 and 26 goals to cement his reputation as one of the Premier League’s top marksman.
Of course, a move to the Premier League’s most successful club was round the corner.
At West Brom on loan Lukaku showed his qualitiesCredit: AFP
The goals continued to flow at Goodison Park in an Everton shirt after he signed for the Toffees on a permanent dealCredit: Action Images – Reuters

RED MISSED
It took £75million plus add-ons to take Lukaku from Goodison Park to Old Trafford in 2017, as he looked to fill the departing Wayne Rooney’s shoes.
But, from the offset, many pundits seemed unconvinced Lukaku was the right fit for Manchester United.
This was even after he scored twice on his debut against West Ham in a 4-0 win, and netted 10 goals in his first nine appearances for the Red Devils – breaking Bobby Charlton’s record of nine in his first nine games.
His first touch was often questioned by fans, who just didn’t take to him.
Effectively, not feeling loved might’ve been the nail in the coffin for his United career.
Despite scoring 42 times in 96 games, Lukaku was told to pack his bags after the club accepted an offer of around £74million.
On his way out of the club, Manchester United legend Gary Neville questioned his professionalism and said he was overweight.
Although, he has always listened to the advice of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba when it has come to managing his career.
Lukaku began his Man Utd career in explosive fashion – scoring 10 times in his first nine gamesCredit: Reuters
Towards the end of his stay at Old Trafford, Lukaku was slammed for being overweightCredit: Getty – Contributor
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has always been a soundboard for Lukaku
REINVENTION
Determined to prove the doubters wrong, Lukaku arrived at the San Siro on a mission.
He accepted that he was top-heavy and listened to the club’s medical staff who devised a strict diet regime for him to follow.
Incredibly, he dropped a stone, began to look sharper and more importantly scored more goals than ever.
 “Since I joined Inter I have changed my diet and I can say that I have never felt so strong,” he revealed.
“My diet consists of salads for lunch, a lot of chicken breast, Shirataki pasta.
“I don’t change my way of eating much, for how we play we must have a very strong physique, we run a lot: since I have followed this lifestyle I feel better on the pitch, I feel more reactive and faster.
“I love carbohydrates and I love potatoes, sweet potatoes and black rice, but I don’t eat a lot of pasta.
At Inter Lukaku has rediscovered his formCredit: EPA
Leaner Lukaku shed a stone and is now sharper than everCredit: AP
Shredded Lukaku has continued to train hard all summer to maintain his new physique

“I’ve always been an explosive player with muscles but Italy took me to another level. I have never felt so strong. I have reached another level, physically and mentally.”
Chelsea might not have got the finished product when they bought a teen Lukaku back in 2011.
But now he appears ready to end the club’s dreaded No9 curse.
Romelu Lukaku releases statement to say that he is happy to be returning to Chelsea More

CHELSEA target Jules Kounde was such a bad loser as a child, he’d often kick his mum in a fit of rage if his team lost.The French defender is tipped to join the Blues this summer in a £70million deal.
Sevilla defender Jules Kounde is a target for ChelseaCredit: Getty
The 22-year-old established himself as one of LaLiga’s best young defenders last campaign – starring for Sevilla and helping the club qualify for this season’s Champions League.
Kounde grew up with his mother in Landiras, a small village about 40 minutes from Bordeaux.
Football was his passion, but often it would leave the young boy in a rage if he lost.
He would take his bad mood out on his mum, kicking her in the legs as his blood boiled.
It got so bad, his mum was forced to see a doctor to get advice on how to handle her son.
PROBLEM CHILD
When he was just nine, Kounde played for a local side in Landiras.
However, the young boy soon got frustrated when they failed to win games and lost his temper.
Soon, he was taking it out on mum.
“When I started playing football in my village, we were playing at a very low level. And we had a bad team, we often lost,” he revealed in an interview with Onze Mundial.
As a kid, Kounde would fly into rages if his team lostCredit: Getty
Kounde admitted he would often kick his mum if he was angry that his team had lostCredit: Getty
“I couldn’t stand losing, it was driving me crazy. I had a period when I was eight or nine years old when I was terrible with my mother.”
It got so bad, Kounde changed clubs. But not before he regretfully kicked out at his mum.
He said: “I remember kicking my mother’s legs. When I came home from games, I got pissed off and did some awkward stuff. This period lasted a little while.”
Not sure who to turn to, Kounde’s mother went to see a doctor.
Kounde continued: “My mother went to see someone for advice, because she couldn’t handle me on this point.
“The shrink had said to her: “Do the same thing, if he kicks you, kick him, like that, he will calm down”. Over time, everything went back to normal.”
RESPECT
Kounde’s behavioural difficulties reared their ugly head at school, although he knew he couldn’t disappoint his mother who valued education.
“In school I was a good student, but I didn’t like to be questioned on things I didn’t do well in,” he said.
“I had very good grades, but sometimes with borderline behaviour.
At school Kounde wasn’t much better and often got in trouble with his teachersCredit: Getty
Bordeaux’s U19 team celebrate winning a youth title with Kounde (yellow armband) as captainCredit: Twitter @jkeey4
“There were times I came into conflict with some teachers. But it never affected me because I passed my exams.
“I only went to school for my mum who didn’t want me to quit.”
In 2013, Kounde was recruited by six-times Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux.
But his journey to the academy was tough, not being selected two years earlier and missing the final round of trials with an injury when his time came.
But Kounde was fortunate to be spotted by ex-France international Yannick Stopyra, part of the squad that finished third at the World Cup in 1986.
Speaking about his former protege, he revealed: “You won’t find anyone to speak ill of him. Discreet, kind, always positive: it is unanimous in Bordeaux.”
BREAKTHROUGH
Stopyra recognised the teenager’s talents and offered him a one-year deal with the club.
Soon, he became one of the academy’s stand-out players. He captained the U19 team to a youth league title.
His performances were enough convince former manager Jocelyn Gourvennec to give Kounde his debut against Troyes in 2018.
Kounde lines up for France U20 in 2018Credit: Getty
In 2019 Kounde established himself in Bordeaux’s first teamCredit: AFP or licensors
Ironically, it was an ex-Chelsea legend who continued to aid the centre back’s development.
After Gourvennec was fired, Gus Poyet was brought in to steady the ship and he gave the young talent a run in the first team.
With Kounde marshalling the back four in 18 appearances, Bordeaux finished a credible sixth and qualified for the Europa League.
It was clear his future belonged on an even bigger stage.
TO SEVILLA
On a personal level, Kounde had a great season the following year – appearing 51 times for the club.
But with Bordeaux finishing a disappointing 14th place, their stars were there to be picked up by bigger clubs.
It was Sevilla who won the race to buy him – paying a staggering £21million for his services in 2019.
“When I left Bordeaux, it was a well-considered choice,” Kounde said.
Sevilla splashed £21million for Kounde in 2019Credit: Getty
Kounde celebrates winning the Europa League trophyCredit: Getty
“Sevilla was the perfect club to take a step forward. And then, I felt that LaLiga was more serious than Ligue 1… It was the right time for me.”
Quickly, Kounde established himself with his new side – finishing fourth in the league and helping the team earn Champions League qualification.
However, it was in 2020 when he would win his first major piece of silverware.
Beating the likes of Roma, Wolves, and Manchester United, Sevilla reached the Europa League final.
There, recorded a famous 3-2 win over Inter Milan.
HE’S AMBITIOUS
Kounde was part of the French squad that gave a poor display at the Euros this summer.
But he won’t let that deter him from his next plan. Back in May, he laid his intentions bare.
“I will perhaps have to change clubs this summer,” he said.
This summer Kounde was part of the French team that flopped at the EurosCredit: Getty

“But nothing has been finalised yet, I have not decided anything. My goal is to play at a big club to try to always progress and to win trophies.”
With Chelsea on hot pursuit, Kounde could potentially join the European champions.
With him in their side, the Blues and Thomas Tuchel could have found the missing piece in the jigsaw for a Premier League-winning side.
Jules Kounde joins Sevilla in training More