Romelu Lukaku’s heart still lies at the Bridge – Updated

Romelu Lukaku’s heart still lies at the Bridge – Updated

What many football fans don’t realise is just how much Chelsea means to Romelu Lukaku. An award-winning fly-on-the-wall documentary that was broadcast 7 years ago caught a 16-year-old Lukaku standing in an empty Stamford Bridge, dreaming of the future.

“If one day in my life, I will cry, it will be the day I play here. I love Chelsea”

The Belgian documentary crew, who were following a school year, were on a field trip to London, where they had taken a stop at Lukaku’s beloved Chelsea. The youngster fell in awe of his surroundings, and as his teacher tried to snap him out of his dream-like state he proclaimed, “This is not dreaming. I will do it. One Day I will play here.”

The Belgian did go on to play at Stamford Bridge, but there is a gaping whole in his time spent at this famous stadium. He has never scored a goal for Chelsea, his team, where his idol Dider Drogba played. He has never heard the fans scream his name, and this is why he has his heart set on a return this summer.

The feeling of unfinished business is one that Lukaku cannot seem to shake off. He was deemed ‘not ready’ by Mourinho, but now the Belgian has matured, he is the league’s top scorer, and is ready to come home.

The 23-year-old has risked damaging his relationship with Everton fans by refusing to sign a new deal at the club last month. The situation could get even messier should he have to fight his way out of the club in the summer. But the reasons behind it run deep, Chelsea is his team, where his heart lies, and he’s said to be willing to do anything to be a hit there.

Antonio Conte is molding Chelsea to his vision, strong, reliable and dangerous on the counter. Lukaku seems ideal for this way of playing. The Belgian is devastating when given space – the prospect of him teaming up with compatriot Hazard in this Chelsea side is frightening to say the least.

Whatever the future holds, Chelsea will need to be wary of the threat Lukaku poses this weekend. The Blues face one of their trickiest matches of the season on Sunday, as they face in-form Everton at Goodison Park.

There’s no danger Lukaku will ease off, as you’d expect he would be looking to impress Conte and the Chelsea hierarchy. It could prove to be the perfect audition for Lukaku, as he looks to dent Chelsea’s title bid, and make everyone at his old club sit up and take notice.

UPDATE: Well Romelu Lukaku could not lead his Everton side to a win over Chelsea today or stop the Blues from West London from continuing to march towards the title after their comprehensive 3-0 win at Goodison Park. Pedro scored on 65 minutes with a left-footed thunderbolt from outside the area and then Gary Cahill bundled in the rebound from Eden Hazard’s free-kick before Willian completed the scoring after a great pass from Cesc Fabregas. The way that Antonio Conte and the Chelsea players were celebrating after the game showed that they felt a win in this their toughest game of their run-in means that the title is pretty much in the bag. Romelu Lukaku could only watch with envy but who knows if he will be in the Blue of Chelsea next season rather than the Blue of Everton.