Chelsea would not have allowed Romelu Lukaku to return to Inter Milan this summer if Marina Granovskaia had still been in charge at the club.
That’s according to journalist Gianluca di Marzio, who says the change of ownership allowed the Italian side to get a favourable deal.
The Belgian returned to his former club on a season-long loan deal in the summer after a disastrous year at Stamford Bridge last season.
He had made a £100m+ move to Stamford Bridge last summer after a superb two years in Serie A, where he had kickstarted his career and established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe.
Things did not work out as he had hoped at Chelsea, though, with a bright start soon fizzling out and him ending the season sat on the bench as Kai Havertz was preferred in the striker role by Thomas Tuchel.
It led to Inter Milan moving to bring him back this year on a deal which suited both them and the striker, something Di Marzio believes wouldn’t have been sanctioned by the old regime.
“I don’t think Marina Granovskaia would have allowed his return to Inter,” SOS Fanta report him saying.
“She would have kept him at Chelsea walking around Stamford Bridge, rather, or at Cobham. She would not have loaned him out to Inter.
“Probably, the situation the club was going through favoured this market deal.”
It now remains to be seen how Lukaku fares back in Italy this season, with the loan deal including an option for them to make it permanent next summer.
He’s so far had a slow start to life back at the club, with one goal and one assist in three appearances so far but muscular problems ruling him out for the last three league games.
Should things not go well or Inter decide not to make the move a permanent one, he will be returning to Stamford Bridge next summer.
Di Marzio can’t see that happening, though, instead believing that an agreement will be struck between the two clubs.
“I really don’t think Lukaku will return to Chelsea. How could he play again in a Chelsea shirt?” he added.
“He has done everything to return to Inter. I think Chelsea and Inter will find the best solution, maybe another loan because in this deal Inter paid 8 million for the loan and would pay another 10 million for a new loan next year.
“The price would then go lower and lower if Inter decide to buy him back.”
