Manchester United transfer news: Romelu Lukaku admits he doesn’t know if he will stay at the club

The striker has grown restless since falling out of favour with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Tom Kershaw
Monday 29 April 2019 11:46 BST
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defends David De Gea after yet another mistake for Manchester United

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Romelu Lukaku has admitted that he is unsure whether he will remain at Manchester United next season.

The Belgian striker has struggled to cement a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, despite being given a rare start in the club’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Lukaku joined United from Everton for £75m two years ago with a contract running until July 2021 but has grown restless over the course of this season and repeatedly iterated a desire to play in the Serie A before the end of his career.

When asked if he would still be at the club next season, Lukaku responded: “I don’t know, I am not here to entertain rumours. I am still under contract.”

Sunday’s draw meant United are now almost certain to miss out on a top-four finish, languishing three points behind Chelsea with a considerably worse goal difference, with just two games of the Premier League season to play.

Another hollowing error from David De Gea, fumbling Antonio Rudiger’s speculative long-range shot and allowing Marcos Alonso to steal in and score the equaliser, ultimately cost United what would have been a pivotal victory.

Lukaku however leapt to the defence of his teammate when questioned about the goalkeeper’s stuttering form.

David De Gea’s error cost United
David De Gea’s error cost United (AFP)

“He has the been the best player at the club since when? Seven or eight years consistently,” the Belgian said. “I don’t think we should discredit him and suddenly say he is a bad goalkeeper. He has saved us so many times this. It happens to strikers, it happens to midfielders and now it is happening to him. He has to learn from it. We are here to support him and he is strong.

“He had a bad time at the start of his United career as I remember and he was just a kid then but came through it. He did what he had to do then, turned it around, won trophies and became the best player at the club and he is a leader in the dressing room. Now it is up to us as a team to help him and trust his abilities.”

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