In an interview with the New York Times, Inter striker Romelu Lukaku has spoken on how he deals with the racist abuse he has been subjected to throughout his career.
“[I have the mindset of] I am going to score. I am going to win. I am going to go home. I have been confronted by it many times in life. You build a type of shell. I take my anger out on the field. I say what I think. If something is on my mind, I will stand up and speak.”
He then spoke on revealing to then Manchester United teammate Paul Pogba that he wanted out of the Premier League side and on being doubted.
“I told him I was done. It had always been a “Yes, but…” about me. I scored against Real Madrid in the European Super Cup, but I also missed a chance. Everyone spoke only of my mistake.
“In my first game in the Premier League I scored against West Ham and everyone said, “Yes, but…”. From there I started thinking about what I would do. One year at United cancelled the previous eight: Pogba and I were blamed for the downfall of United.
“We never talk about my qualities when I am compared to other attackers. My dribbling in one-on-one situations is good, I can do step overs and I can get by the opponent.
“I remember a comment from a reporter who said United shouldn’t sign me because I’m not a smart player. I don’t see it that way. The UK was good to me, but I had to leave.”
He then revealed what Cristiano Ronaldo told him when they met in the tunnel prior to the match between Inter and Juventus at the beginning of October.
“He told me this is the hardest defensive league in the world. He said he’d scored goals everywhere, but this was the toughest place to do it. And if Cristiano Ronaldo thinks it’s difficult, then it must be really difficult. It’s harder than England. The football is more intense there, but here everything is pattern of play.”