Romelu Lukaku insists he will ‘definitely return’ to Anderlecht before the end of his career

Romelu Lukaku has claimed he will ‘definitely’ head back to former club Anderlecht before the end of his playing days.

Lukaku rose through the youth ranks at Lotto Park in Brussels before graduating to the senior squad in 2009, and going on to score 41 goals in 98 appearances for the club. 

The Inter Milan star has since spent the majority of his career so far in the Premier League with Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United, before a £73million move to the Serie A side last year from Old Trafford.

Romelu Lukaku has insisted he will ‘definitely return’ to Anderlecht before ending his career

Lukaku rose through the youth ranks at Anderlecht and scored 41 goals before leaving in 2011

But speaking while away on international duty with Belgium, Lukaku maintained he harbours desires to make his way back to the club where his professional career began, because the attraction of returning to the club is ‘too big’.

‘I always follow Anderlecht,’ Lukaku told Belgian channel VTM. ‘I will definitely return. The attraction for a player that was there as a youngster is too big.

‘Ask guys like Leander Dendoncker, Youri Tielemans. They are still involved with the club too because we had so many good moments there.’

Lukaku has enjoyed another stellar start to a season in 2020/21 after firing in 34 goals in his first season at San Siro to help Inter finish second in Serie A and reach the Europa League final.

He has spent most of his career in England with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United

The 27-year-old forward then joined Serie A side Inter Milan last summer from United for £73m

It was a prolific return for the 27-year-old, who has credited former Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry as playing a key role in his development over the years, while also revealing he gets along with current club boss Antonio Conte.

‘I often speak with Thierry Henry,’ he added. ‘Very often. He’s actually my mentor. He gave me the impetus to be compared with other strikers in Europe.’

‘Italy suits my lifestyle. If I had known before, I would have moved here first.’

‘At Inter we play with two forwards. When I play on his [Conte] side, he makes himself heard, but me and the coach get along well.

Lukaku also praised former Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry for helping him develop

Lukaku also revealed he has a good relationship with his current club boss Antonio Conte

‘We are more or less similar. I too, like him, hate losing.’

However, when asked if his own goal in Inter’s 3-2 defeat to Sevilla in last season’s Europa League still haunts him, Lukaku responded: ‘It was too much for me. I have always had those moments when I simply have to say no. 

‘Super Cups, Scudetto lost by one point, semi-final of the World Cup with Belgium.

‘It was all terrible for me. I thought, sod this. I had given so much for that target, then I didn’t get it. It took me four or five days to get over it.’

The striker admitted it took him four or five days to get over his Europa League final own goal