Overcoming the same city club Milan with a total score of 3-0 in the semi-finals, Inter entered the Champions League final for the first time since the historic 2009-2010 season.
Responding to CNN on June 5, Lukaku was asked about Inter’s spirit and the similarities between the current squad and the team that made history 13 years ago.
Lukaku celebrates after Inter won 3-1 against Lazio on April 30 in Serie A. Photo: Reuters
In the summer of 2022, Inter borrowed Lukaku from Chelsea on a one-year contract for a fee of 8.3 million USD, without a mandatory buyout clause in the summer of 2023. The Belgian striker accepted to reduce his income by nearly half and received the number 90 shirt in Germany.
At the beginning of the season, Lukaku was continuously absent due to fitness and injury.
Lukaku is happy to return to Inter after a successful initial period at Giuseppe Meazza.
`It was an emotional time, because we are really a team, we have a lot of time together,` the 30-year-old striker expressed.
Lukaku burst into tears when talking about his late grandfather – the person he praised as his greatest inspiration.
`I couldn’t watch the Champions League final, but now, thanks to God, I can play directly,` Lukaku said emotionally.
Lukaku also gave a lot of praise to Erling Haaland – the striker who broke the Premier League scoring record to win the European Golden Shoe in his first season with Man City.