Martinez, who has already managed Lukaku in the past at Everton, believes that Romelu Lukaku’s impact in the Premier League is undervalued.
Inter Milan's Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku acknowledges the public at the end of the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan vs US Lecce on August 26, 2019 at the San Siro stadium in Milan. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)
Belgium National team manager Roberto Martinez has now come out in defence of star player Romelu Lukaku after he moved to Inter Milan earlier in the summer transfer window. In a recent statement, Martinez has stated that Romelu Lukaku’s performance has not earned him the respect that he deserves.
Manchester United sold their star player Romelu Lukaku to Italian giants Inter Milan for a reported transfer fee of €80million. The Belgian International netted as many as 27 goals in his first season with Manchester United.
However, in his second season with Manchester United, Lukaku managed only 15 goals as experts and critics raised questions over certain aspects of his game and fitness.
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Martinez, who has already managed Lukaku in the past at Everton, believes that Romelu Lukaku’s impact in the Premier League is undervalued.
To put his statement into perspective, only 18 players have netted more goals in Premier League than Romelu Lukaku’s 113 in 125 matches.
“Romelu hasn’t been appreciated for most of the time he’s been in the British game,” Martinez was quoted by Daily Mail.
“And the reason is very clear. Everyone analyses what he hasn’t got as a number nine. Everyone wants to tell him the first touch should be better, that he should be stronger in the air, that he needs to make more room.
“But what they miss is his outstanding trade as a goalscorer. Look at his stats. He is one of the most significant scorers at his age.
“Like any player, if you are going to highlight the things they don’t do well, you wouldn’t get the feeling of a good player.
“But in Romelu’s case, he’s always been a top goalscorer,” he added.
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