Serie A giants AC Milan have decided against pursuing a move for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Milan News), AC Milan have pulled out of the race to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian forward could be on the move just a year after returning to Stamford Bridge in a club-record move from Inter Milan.
The 28-year-old took the Serie A by storm when he moved to Inter from Manchester United in the 2019 summer transfer window, scoring 47 goals in 72 league appearances during that time.
Lukaku’s sumptuous form for the Nerazzurri forced Chelsea to re-sign their former striker. They made a €113 million move for the striker in the hope that he would help them challenge for the Premier League title. Lukaku, too, had a point to prove after a failed Chelsea stint and a mixed time with Manchester United in the Premier League.
Things have not gone according to plans for both the parties involved as the Belgian has struggled to adapt to Thomas Tuchel’s system, which has affected his form. His explosive comments in an interview in December last year, where he expressed displeasure with the manager’s tactics further soured things between the player and the club.
Lukaku has since been linked with a move away from Chelsea, with his goal-scoring returns further cutting down his chances to fight for a place in the lineup. The Belgian international has scored just 12 goals in 38 appearances for Chelsea across competitions this season. Moreover, he has had to do with a bit-part role with Tuchel preferring his other attackers in Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
The uncertainty surrounding Lukaku’s future at Chelsea has alerted a few clubs across Europe and AC Milan were believed to be one of them. The Rossoneri were reportedly courting the former Inter Milan striker over a possible summer move as they seek to replace their ageing centre-forward duo of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud.
However, AC Milan have now reportedly decided against signing Lukaku as they wish to bring young Italian talents on board ahead of the next season. Moreover, the Chelsea striker’s cost and wage demands would be a big roadblock, along with his past association with Inter. So, a move to San Siro seems off for now for Lukaku and it remains to be seen if he remains at Chelsea beyond this season.