Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho explains how Romelu Lukaku has changed since Chelsea spell

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says Romelu Lukaku has been through a ‘global evolution’ since he flopped under him at Chelsea earlier in his career.

The Belgium international has started in prolific form for the Red Devils since a £75million summer transfer from Everton, where he had started to establish himself as one of the best strikers in the league.

Lukaku had his most prolific campaign in England last year but now looks on his way to bettering it with United after 10 goals in his first nine games for the club.

Mourinho failed to hand Lukaku the chance to shine when they were together at Chelsea back in 2013, but insists he’s developed his game under different managers since then.

‘I don’t want to speak about this progress because if I do that it looks like we have done something extraordinary in three months – something he hasn’t done in the other years of his career,’ Mourinho said.

‘It’s not fair. It’s been about evolution. I think every step in his career he has got it, he has grabbed it with both hands since his first loan to West Brom. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands, fighting for his evolution.

‘He has been very strong in his desire to be playing in a team with other objectives now. Champions League football was always his dream – to come to this level. Since he has arrived here I don’t think he has thought anything other than to be a success.

‘So he works hard. He rests. He has a great professional life outside the football pitch. He has ambitions. He enjoys this. I think it’s been a global evolution.

‘It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t say that every step in his career, with different managers, different fellow players, different teams hasn’t contributed to what he is now. Now I think that Manchester United of course is a different level of expectation and he is coping well.’

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