Inter striker Romelu Lukaku discussed his private life in an interview yesterday evening with British broadcaster Sky Sports UK.

“Fatherhood reassures me. When I come back from a training session, he’s there, all excited. Totally excited. He wants to play with Daddy. It’s fun. When there’s a game on TV, he recognises me and starts shouting: ‘Daddy, Daddy’.”

The 26-year-old Belgian striker then touched on his son’s age and when he first kicked a football.

“He’s thirteen months old, but now he’s starting to understand things, he took his first steps at nine months and after ten months he played with his first ball. I’m just waiting for permission from my coach Antonio Conte so that I can take him to Appiano Gentile one day.”

The Belgian striker joined Inter from Premier League side Manchester United last summer for a deal worth around €80 million, a club record. He signed a five-year deal with the Nerazzurri, due to expire in the summer of 2024. His arrival signified the first time in his career that he’s worked under long-time admirer Antonio Conte, who previously wanted him when he was at Chelsea.

Lukaku made 29 appearances across all competitions so far this season, for a total of 2469 minutes. In that time, he’s scored 20 goals and provided four assists, contributing to a goal every 103 minutes. The player has formed a formidable striking partnership with Argentine forward Lautaro Martinez.