In a shocking revelation, Romelu Lukaku could have donned the iconic Real Madrid jersey! His agent, Federico Pastorello, disclosed this potential transfer in an interview with Diario AS. According to Pastorello, the Belgian striker was genuinely in the plans of manager Carlo Ancelotti. However, the Madrid hierarchy had their eyes set on another star: Kylian Mbappé.
Pastorello stated, “Lukaku could have signed with Real Madrid, but they were already focused on Mbappé.” He continued, “Ancelotti admired Lukaku and wanted him, but the club was preparing for a major move for Mbappé the following year and didn’t want to invest in a loan deal.” This fixation on Mbappé led to Lukaku missing out on the opportunity to play at the Bernabéu.
At that time, Real was actively seeking offensive reinforcements, and a door had opened for Lukaku to join. But with the club’s intense focus on landing Mbappé in 2024, they never pursued Lukaku’s transfer further. The result? The current Napoli striker never had the chance to showcase his talent at one of football’s most prestigious venues.
Chelsea: Mistakes and Regrets
Pastorello also reflected on Lukaku’s 2021 transfer to Chelsea, which became one of the Blues’ most expensive deals ever. Now, he admits some regrets: “In hindsight, I might not have done that transfer. No one anticipated the difficulties with the coach and his injury. Without those issues, the story could have been entirely different!”
Ultimately, Lukaku found his footing back in Italy, largely thanks to Antonio Conte, who is now at Napoli. “Conte called him, and he didn’t even think twice. He needed certainty, and with Conte, he feels valued,” Pastorello noted. Thus, the fate of Lukaku could have taken a different turn in Madrid, had the club not put all its cards on the table for Kylian Mbappé.
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