Romelu Lukaku has reassured Inter supporters about Antonio Conte’s future and made a slight dig at former teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Lukaku has scored 21 goals in Serie A this season and was a pivotal figure in helping Inter secure their first league title since 2010, when he was still a teenager in Belgium.
The Belgian is known to have a very tight relationship with Conte and Lukaku doesn’t seem worried about rumours Inter might lose their head coach in the summer.
Asked if Conte would leave the Nerazzurri, Lukaku told Corriere della Sera today: “No, I don’t think so.
“He too is very happy because he’s comfortable here; he has a team that follows him both in training and in games.
“We have everything here to open a new cycle (with Conte).”
Lukaku became Inter’s club-record signing when he joined from Manchester United for more than €70 million (bonuses included) in 2019.
Conte was instrumental in bringing the striker to Serie A and Lukaku was only too happy to recall how the move came about.
“Conte persuaded me immediately,” the 27-year-old explained.
“The same day he was appointed at Inter, I sent him a message saying: ‘I’m coming.’
“For me, playing with Inter in Serie A has always been a dream; when I was in England I wanted to play for Chelsea, then only for Inter.
“I’ve fulfilled a dream (by coming here) and now I’m with the coach who, for me, is the best around.
“There are no surprises for us on the pitch because we’re prepared for everything.
“We’ve won a trophy in our second season after coming close in the first year.
“Conte and I both treated the second-place finish in Serie A and the Europa League final loss like a defeat, and we turned that into motivation.”
Lukaku is widely regarded as Inter’s most important player under Conte, but he was at pains to play down his role in the scudetto triumph and highlight the work of his teammates and superiors.
“This title is for the team, the club and the fans, it’s not mine,” he insisted.
“It’s not as if I’ll consider myself a top player from now on (because I’ve won the league), I’m someone who helps teams to win and I always make myself available for the coach.
“All our players have taken a step up this season, let’s hope our improvements can bring more trophies.”
Lukaku is constantly linked with Europe’s top clubs, such as Manchester City and Barcelona, thanks to his spectacular form at Inter.
The striker didn’t seem too bothered about the rumours though, assuring supporters: “I never give any importance to them.
“I used to listen to them, when you’re younger you think in a different way, but I’m turning 28 next Thursday.
“In my head, I’m convinced I’m playing for a team that can do great things: we can win, keep improving and begin a new cycle.
“We have a coach who always tries to give his all.”
Lukaku was seen driving around Milan on Sunday to celebrate Inter’s title with their fans, another sign of his attachment to the club.
“I’ve felt good here since the first day I arrived,” he explained.
“I immediately felt the love from the fans, it was the start of a lovely story.
“I told myself: ‘I have to do everything possible to make this club win something.’
“There have been difficult years for Inter and I feel this title even more strongly, so I wanted to celebrate with the people.”
Inter’s black mark in their season remains their group stage exit from the UEFA Champions League, a failure Lukaku described as ‘a big disappointment’.
“We should have made it out of that group,” he admitted.
“Real Madrid are a strong side but we were better than the other two (Borussia Monchengladbach and Shakhtar Donetsk), we messed up.
“It’s difficult to play against Inter: we always score, and if a team has to attack us they struggle.
“We can defend for 90 minutes if we want, if we decided we aren’t going to concede then the others can’t make it happen, there’s nothing they can do.
“We must get out of the group next season, then anything could happen.”
Lukaku has formed one of Europe’s most prolific strike partnerships with Lautaro Martinez during the past two seasons, but the Belgian doesn’t think they’re quite the best yet.
“We mustn’t forget Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski (at Bayern Munich),” he argued.
“Lautaro and I have started a nice journey and we must continue; we both get on well, on and off the pitch, but it’s the start of the journey.”
Lukaku also had nice words for Nicolo Barella, revealing: “I need Nicolo, he gives me energy.
“He absorbs the energy from his teammates, just like me.”
Lukaku also reflected on his bitter spat with Zlatan Ibrahimovic during January’s Coppa Italia derby against AC Milan, where Ibrahimovic insulted his mother.
“We were losing 1-0, I’d missed a great chance and I was a bit annoyed,” Lukaku recalled.
“His words struck a chord with me: I’m not happy to have reacted like that, but I’m not someone who allows others to trample on him.
“I’m humble and calm, I’m a winner and I’ll fight to the death for my teammates and for the victory.
“Ibrahimovic is a great player who’s won everywhere he’s gone and scored more than 500 goals.”
Asked what his personal relationship with the Swedish striker was now like, Lukaku admitted: “It was a good relationship up until when we were at Manchester United.
“We need players like Ibrahimovic in Serie A; he wants to win for himself, me for Inter, Cristiano Ronaldo for Juventus, and now there’s Jose Mourinho at Roma.
“These are all good things for Italy; the level is increasing, let’s hope Inter can win again (next season).”
