Romelu Lukaku chose to join Inter after seeking advice from Jay-Z, the American rapper has confirmed.
Inter signed the Belgian from Manchester United in the summer of 2019, and two years later they are delighted with their decision because they have become Serie A champions.
Lukaku is the undisputed king of Milan after scoring 64 goals in 95 appearances across all competitions, but he needed a little convincing to accept Inter’s offer two years ago.
“I remember when we talked together about the possibility of joining Inter in the summer of 2019,” Jay-Z revealed in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport for Monday’s print edition.
“We discussed all the reasons why it would be the right decision for him.
“I’m not surprised in the slightest by Lukaku’s goals and the Scudetto.
“Everything Romelu does has a purpose: he knows there’s always an objective in front of him and you need to do everything to achieve it.”
Inter’s star striker signed onto Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports agency back in 2018, revealing his close relationship with the 51-year-old superstar in an interview yesterday.
“You can see he’s really attached to his roots,” Jay-Z added, when asked what made Lukaku special.
“Romelu immediately spoke to me about his brother Jordan and his love for music, a sentiment which connects us.
“Then when he started speaking about his education, he told me about his father and his mother.
“He explained to me the love they showed him even in the most difficult moments of his life.
“His father was an ex-footballer and that’s where he got his passion for football, the flame that guides him every day.
“I knew that with such a solid base, at the end, Lukaku would have succeeded in every sporting and private challenge.”
Jay-Z was also asked what kind of advice he had given Lukaku during his career so far, responding: “He’s a very curious guy about life and the world.
“The important thing is he always asks himself the right question.”
Lukaku is attracting strong interest from Chelsea as the transfer window begins, but reports in Italy have suggested he wants to stay with the Nerazzurri.
