I have to admit I’m baffled by Romelu Lukaku’s decision to join Manchester United.
It’s a funny one, why would he want to go and play for a manager who has already twice deemed him not good enough, which is exactly what Jose Mourinho has done, whatever way he wraps it up.
Ok, I get he’ll say he’s improved, I get he is no doubt a better player, but really? It’s a strange one for me, especially as this deal looks suspiciously like it is a last minute deal.
Everyone said he was nailed on for Chelsea and they were quietly confident, United seemed to be in for Moratta, so what has changed so much to persuade Lukaku to risk his confidence, reputation and future with Mourinho.
The fee is part of it, obviously. When a club pays £90million with add-ons for a striker, then there’s a good chance if he doesn’t play, then it is the manager who will pay the price for that, not the player.
I do believe he’ll score goals too, which is the bottom line on why they’ve paid so much for Lukaku – and no matter which way you look at it, it’s a helluva price for any player, let alone someone who still has quite a bit to prove at the highest level.
His track record in the Premier League shows he will score goals, guaranteed. He’s still young too, so if he’s not played yet at club level at the very top level, and if there are questions marks about his performances for Belgium at that level, then he has plenty of time to erase them.
Even more importantly – and I am convinced clubs have to be looking at this much harder – he actually plays games. That may sound stupid, but how many strikers (all players in fact) miss a bunch of games every season through injury?
Lukaku never seems to miss them. And for a striker whose record suggests he is guaranteed to score goals when he’s on the pitch, that is priceless. There may be others with more natural talent, but if they don’t play they can’t score.
I think in many ways he’s an upgrade on Ibrahimovic. Zlatan got goals, but United didn’t get that energetic young eager performer who would run at defenders, run in behind and take the threat to opponents.
Lukaku will do that when he’s in the mood, and that will improve United this season…though not too much I hope!
I don’t think the spending will stop here either. They will sign more players, because this is a statement of intent they want to be the top force in English football again, which will send a shiver down the spine of the other clubs…and some of their own young players.
I’ve been in that position a few times myself. People don’t remember this, but when Liverpool signed Stan Collymore, I was originally dumped on the bench, even though I’d scored 30 goals the season before.
It was frustrating as a young striker coming through, because it felt like they were never going to build a team around me (and they never did, which I still find strange and frustrating) and never give me a chance just because I came through the system.
But here’s the thing. You have one choice. At United it doesn’t look so good for Rashford, Martial and Lingard, because Lukaku will be the centre forward and Mkhitaryan – who I think will have a big influence this season, will play in behind.
They can sulk and hint about leaving, or they can get on with it and prove they should be in the team somewhere. With me, I remember I was on the bench at the start of the season when Stan came in, but came on as a sub at Spurs, scored a good goal and they couldn’t leave me out after that.
That’s what the young United players have to do. Get ready to make themselves undroppable when the chance comes along.
Let’s face it, it’s not just strikers, or just United. Chelsea won the league and dumped their main forward, and will make some big signings in other areas. It’s the way of the football world now, so get used to it.
Of those three, things don’t look good for Martial at all, because it is clear Mourinho doesn’t rate him, so I don’t see him getting much of a chance. But I think Rashford will, and maybe he’s the one who can still come through, despite the odds stacked against him.
Whichever way, it doesn’t look good for English football, because once again, just when young players are emerging for the national side, they are denied regular responsibility at their clubs.
But I’ll tell you this, Mourinho doesn’t give a monkey’s about that. He doesn’t care about the England team, the game over here. He cares about United, about winning, and about his own reputation.
Speaking as Liverpool supporter it’s not great news. For me, all the signs are this will improve United, and if you’re an Everton fan, you’ll see have an improved squad with the chance now to go out and get even more players. That will excite their fans I’m sure.