José Mourinho is confident Romelu Lukaku will be a success at Manchester United after the club confirmed the striker's arrival from Everton. The 24-year-old, who has signed a five-year deal and joined his new team-mates on Monday morning for training at UCLA's Drake Stadium, stated immediately that his aim was to win the Champions League with his new club.
The striker took part in a boxes session that included Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard, and Andreas Pereira in hot sunshine after the session started at 10am. Mourinho watched on as Lukaku, who will earn £250,000-a-week at United, began the process of integrating into his squad.
The Portuguese, who managed Lukaku at Chelsea, said: “Romelu is a natural fit for Manchester United. He is a big personality and a big player. It is only natural that he wants to develop his career at the biggest club. He will be a great addition to the group and I know they will make him very welcome. I am really looking forward to working with him again.”
Lukaku, who scored 68 league goals for Everton in 141 matches (including the initial loan spell), said he was looking forward to playing at Old Trafford in front of the Manchester United fans while thanking Everton supporters for their support during his spell there.
“However, when Manchester United and José Mourinho come knocking at the door it is an opportunity of a lifetime and one that I could not turn down,” he said.
Lukaku is intent on trying to win the Champions League. “Finally, finally. I’ve been a pro for eight years and I have never had a taste of the Champions League group stages. It’s something I have always wanted, that competition has something, I want to see how it is and to have a taste. Now to have that opportunity and to challenge to win it is the best thing.
“We are going to be prepared and we are all going to work hard in these upcoming weeks so we are prepared to challenge for the trophies. With Manchester United, we can challenge every year to win the Champions League. The club is in a rebuilding process and the manager is doing the right things to take the club back to where it belongs. That is the exciting part. I’m delighted, excited, I can’t wait to start, to be with the team, the manager, and to start a new part of my life.”
Lukaku also stated how Pogba played in persuading him to join the Reds. “It’s been a big role. Of course he’s one of my best friends and he is my neighbour as well. We are always together on a daily basis so he would explain to me how things were going,” he said. “Last season when he signed for United, to have witnessed that, it really triggered something in my brain and I knew that if one day I had the chance to sign then I would not say no.
“You just know and realise how big the club is, and the hunger it has to win trophies. I would like to say, at the end of my career, that I played for a team that has always challenged for trophies and this is what the club has always done. To be here now is a blessing and I will not take this opportunity for granted.
“The history, the players that play for the club and the way that the club is always hungry to win trophies. It is something that I want and it is something that I was searching for. For me it was the perfect opportunity to make the big step and as a club, when Manchester United comes and asks you to play for them then you do not say no.
“I’m a really calm person but once I’m on the pitch I just become a warrior. I want to help my team-mates, and be part of a team that wants to challenge for all of the trophies that are out there.”
Lukaku revealed how he assured his mother he would one day play for United. “I live in Manchester so I pass Old Trafford many times when I want to go to the city centre,” said Lukaku. “One night I said to my mum that I would play there one day. I thought so. I had a certain feeling. It was just the stadium. When you pass it, I am driving but I am looking at the stadium the whole time.
“Every time when I played against Man United, every time I came onto the pitch, I just felt like a child. You can see the atmosphere, the fans. It was just a blessing and I can’t wait to play my first game over there. I am really excited for that.
“I’m going to give my best, try to score as many goals as possible and try to win as many trophies. That is what they want. They want excitement on the pitch and this is something that I will try to deliver in every single game.
“You could see the fight, determination and the spirit in this team during the Europa League final and I want to become a part of that. I cannot wait to run out at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 fans but before that pre-season is where the hard work starts and I am looking forward to that first training session.”
(Guardian service)
