Belgium national team manager Roberto Martinez has sang the praises of Inter striker Romelu Lukaku ahead of the upcoming international break.
27-year-old Lukaku had a stellar first season at Inter as he netted a total of 34 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions.
“The lost final against Sevilla was a very difficult moment not only for Lukaku but also for those who follow him and who wanted him to win but he managed to score in consecutive Europa League games and still score in the final,” Martinez explained to the gathered media at the press conference following the announcement of the Belgium squad, which Lukaku is part of.
Martinez, who has been in charge of the Belgian national team since 2016, then went on to insist that Lukaku has a positive season, even if the player himself feels down about the way the season ended at the moment.
“When you look at the matches and his statistics from the season it can be said that it was really a success, too bad his feelings of the moment do not reflect this.
“You all know that Romelu Lukaku is a winner. He has had an exceptional season and in football sometimes you have that unfair feeling that the last game makes you feel very differently than what you did.”
Martinez then went on to share his surprise that Lukaku managed to match the goal tally that the legendary Il Fenomeno Ronaldo managed in his debut season with Inter back in 1997/98.
“Romelu went to Italy and equaled a record I never thought would be hit, managing to catch Ronaldo with 34 goals in one season.”
Martinez concluded by sharing his belief that Lukaku will use the Europa League final heartbreak to help him bounce back.
“The leadership and maturity he has shown are very positive things. Obviously, when you enter a final, the only way to face it is with a positive attitude to win it and I think Romelu was hurt, but I think he will use this bitterness to try to reset his goals.”
