In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, legendary Italian footballer Paolo Rossi has shared his views on Inter striker Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku joined Inter this past Summer from Premier League side Manchester United in what was a club record transfer for Inter and the Belgian has scored goals for fun since his arrival.
The 26-year-old has netted 20 goals in 29 games across all competitions in a Nerazzurri shirt and has scored goals against the likes of AC Milan, Lazio and Napoli during the season.
“He has surprised me most of all. Let’s not forget that he has only been here for a few months and is already the boss of Inter. He is the beacon of the team and a real reference point for his teammates. Lukaku impresses because he immediately adapted and has performed consistently,” the 63-year-old explained in the interview that appeared in today’s print edition of the Roman newspaper.
“Do you know what I like about Lukaku? He plays for the team. He makes a difference with the way he helps his teammates and ho he makes himself available to them. He is always looking for one-two passes, protects the ball well and waits for his teammates to arrive. He is unselfish and I would have had a lot of fun playing with someone like him.”
Rossi then went on to speak about the former Chelsea striker’s mentality.
“I think he has a really nice character. He reminds me of Messi. I’ve never seen him complain. Never. And think about the beating Messi takes.”
Next he spoke on Lukaku’s strike partner Lautaro Martinez, who has scored 16 goals in 27 appearances across all competitions this term.
“He has a natural instinct in front of goal. He and Lukaku have a quality that distinguishes them, their courage and they are the mirror of some partnerships from the past. They are like me and Bettega in Argentina in 1978 or me and Graziani at the World Cup in Spain.”
Rossi, who was part of the 1982 World Cup winning Italy side, concluded the interview by speaking on the race for the Serie A title.
“I think Juventus and Inter will fight it out to the end and Lazio will be just detached from them. With the transfer market they have had, Inter have got closer to Juventus but Juve is still a little ahead, but now they feel the breath of the Nerazzurri on their neck.”