PHOTO: @RomeluLukaku9 meets back up with manager Roberto Martinez. #WelcomeHomeRom pic.twitter.com/pAj51VUZ6P
— Everton (@Everton) July 30, 2014
The sale of 21-year-old striker Romelu Lukaku to Everton for £28m has been much-maligned by many Chelsea fans. While some are claiming that the club didn’t do the right thing by letting him go, others have been far more lenient and have endorsed the Portuguese manager’s decision. Henry Ford once said: “Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement.” Perhaps Jose Mourinho was simply following Ford’s words in his bid to claim his third Premier League title with Chelsea.
There is no doubt that the Belgian striker has bucket loads of potential, for he has already shown that with not just the national team, but also with West Bromwich Albion and Everton. But the problem for Chelsea was that they knew they couldn’t guarantee a first-team spot for the Belgian striker who they signed for £18m from Anderlecht only three years ago. So after three years, two loan spells, a solitary Premier League start for the Blues and no goals to show for his efforts, Lukaku is off, earning Chelsea a tidy profit in the process.
Lukaku’s decision to move to Everton is one that is a win-win situation for all parties concerned. The Blues knew that the Toffees weren’t going to be fighting for the League anytime soon and so knew that they would only be selling their prized asset to someone who isn’t a direct rival. For the player as well, it means that he will now be at a club which appreciates his talents and a team for whom he scored 15 goals in 31 League games last season. For the Merseyside club as well, the signature of the mercurial striker is one that signals a statement of intent.
The Everton-bound striker also spoke of how he has no “regrets” about moving away from Chelsea. When one would’ve expected him to have a go at the club for not giving him enough opportunities to impress, the Belgian took the contrary route and instead spoke highly of the club, which he claims to have taught him “how to be a professional, a work ethic and a winning mentality.” Lukaku also explained his reasons for leaving, when he said:
“I wouldn’t say anything bad about that club but I didn’t want to on the bench for 10 years.”
So what does his departure mean to Chelsea? With Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o already gone and Fernando Torres on the verge of leaving, does it leave the club short on numbers up front? Should Mourinho be blamed for letting him go?
As far as what does it do to Chelsea’s attack, it certainly does weaken it. But then again, one could argue that the Belgian was never a part of the attack, so it shouldn’t really bother the club too much. But, the simple fact is that, it reduces the number of options for Mourinho up front. Should Torres leave and Diego Costa get injured, the club will be left with a 36-year-old striker whose best years are well and truly behind him.
While it is true that Lukaku wanted a first-team role and Mourinho couldn’t promise him that, the arrival of Drogba was proof that Mourinho didn’t really trust Lukaku. After all, why would you go out and buy a 36-year-old striker, well beyond his prime, when you have someone with the same physical attributes at your own club, whose is 15 years younger than him. As they say, some players get on with their managers, others don’t, unfortunately for Lukaku, he was never in Mourinho’s good books and that ultimately led to him choose a move elsewhere to enhance his career.
While Lukaku’s departure is great news for both the player and Everton, it might not be so for Chelsea. For, it leaves the club short on cover up front and it shows once and for all that Mourinho is the boss, at Chelsea and his decision is final. Will this decision of his come back to bite him? Only time will tell, but chances are, it just might.