“I was scared” – AS Roma’s Romelu Lukaku speaks on Saudi Arabia offer after calling Napoli’s Conte ‘best coach’

Romelu Lukaku states he already knows where he will play football next season amidst reports linking him with a move away from AS Roma, Socceernet.football reports.

Still on the books of Chelsea, Lukaku has spent the last two seasons away from Stamford Bridge and Inter Milan and, during the just concluded campaign, at AS Roma.

The man who convinced him to join Roma, Jose Mourinho, has already departed the Yellow and Reds and has been appointed the head coach at Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

Lukaku is expected to return to Chelsea this summer with his contract with the Blues not expiring until June 2026.

However, the 31-year-old forward has no part to play in the plans of new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and will look to part ways permanently with the Londoners during the transfer window.

And when asked in an interview with HLN, as per Il Romanista, where his next destination would be, the former Manchester United star remained coy, insisting that he has his mind made up.

“In my head, I already understand it. I know what will happen,” Lukaku said.

“A lot of people like to talk, maybe because I don’t have an official agent. But I will decide. I have control of my situation. I will make a choice and once I explain it, everyone will agree with me.

“Whenever I decided to stay or leave somewhere, it turned out to be the right choice due to some factors. It is like a relationship with a woman that doesn’t work anymore, why stay together?”

Lukaku and Antonio Conte worked together to great effect at Inter Milan, where they won the Scudetto to end Juventus’s Serie A dominance.

Conte has recently been named the new manager of Napoli fueling rumours that the former Tottenham boss could look to reunite with Lukaku at the Diego Maradona Stadium in Naples.

When asked about his relationship with Conte, Lukaku did little to douse the rumours after showering praises on the Italian gaffer.

Lukaku said: “Who has been my best coach so far? Antonio Conte.”

Chelsea have been ready to offload Lukaku since last year and accepted a bid for Lukaku from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal last summer but the forward rejected the move

Lukaku has provided more details regarding that failed Saudi move.

“It was really intense at that moment,” the Belgian forward added. “For two weeks. For two days in a row I thought: ‘Yes, I’m going there’, “No, not I’m going.

“Everyone went to Saudi Arabia only after the days in which I could have signed. Let’s say I was scared. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t stop me. The level will only increase. And it will reach a much higher level than many think. More and more footballers will tend to play there.

“Also because of the way the fans experience football. The infrastructure still needs to be improved, but all the big top European clubs know it: ‘Saudi Arabia is coming.’ You can already see it in boxing, in golf, in Formula 1…”

Lukaku has been included in the Belgium squad for the 2024 European Champions, where he will look to help the perennial underachievers make a significant impact.