“Third time”: 28-year-old star criticized for moving to Chelsea by national teammate

Radja Nainggolan has slammed Romelu Lukaku for Chelsea transfer decision

Speaking to beIN Sport via Football Italia, as relayed by Football London, former Inter Milan midfielder Radja Nainggolan has slammed Romelu Lukaku for re-joining Chelsea, claiming that he could have been the ‘best striker’ in the world had he stayed in Italy.

The Belgian striker moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer but has struggled to make the kind of impact expected of him following his move to London. Lukaku has since then lost his place to Kai Havertz in the starting 11 and is struggling to break into the team.

The former Manchester United striker was tearing it up with the Nerazzurri in the Serie A last season alongside Lautaro Martinez, playing a pivotal role in guiding them to their first Scudetto in 11 years. His exploits at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza earned him a lot of plaudits but all of that seems like a distant memory right now.

Lukaku’s time in London has not gone according to plan and former teammate Radja Nainggolan has slammed the Belgian for making the move to Stamford Bridge.

“I had told Lukaku that he was the best striker in the world at Inter. The team and the tactical system were shaped around him. He dreamt of making it at Chelsea, but it’s the third time that he goes there and it always ends up in the same way. Had he stayed at Inter, he would have been the best striker in the world for four or five years and I keep telling him this.”

A failed homecoming?

Lukaku’s second spell at Stamford Bridge was expected to be a roaring success. While the 28-year-old had a decent start to life in the PL last summer, fast-forward to the present and he has failed to cement himself as the club’s leading striker.

Kai Havertz, naturally a midfielder, has been preferred to Lukaku in the striking position. Even Timo Werner has earned prominence in recent weeks and is finally showing promise. The Belgian international however has managed a sub-par return of five goals and no assists in 20 Premier League games so far this campaign.

With Havertz putting up some impressive performances in recent memory, the former Evertonian has slipped even further down the pecking order at Chelsea. With all factors combined, the move to London hasn’t worked out for Lukaku.

However, at his best, there is no denying that Lukaku is a prolific goal-scorer and perhaps we can give him a bit more time before giving a judgement on how his return to England has gone. Injuries and Covid have not made it easy for the Belgian in his first season back in England.

More Chelsea News

• Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel provides an update on the injury of Antonio Rudiger
• Transfer News: Real Madrid ready a £58m bid for Chelsea star Reece James
• Sir Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams join the Sir Martin Broughton bid to purchase Chelsea

Lukaku has everything it takes to become the best striker in the world, even at Stamford Bridge. Let’s hope he proves Nainggolan wrong and makes it big at Chelsea. It is, after all, his first full season since his return to London.

We should give him more time and be patient. There was a big investment made in the ex-Manchester United striker and we cannot be quick to pull the plug so early on. A few good games from now until the end of the season can be the jumpstart he needs to really kick start his career here.