BERLIN – Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku has heaped praise on
Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte after ending a transfer saga by
leaving Manchester United for the Serie A club.
"The coach was a key factor," Lukaku told the Inter homepage on
Friday. "He's the best coach in the world: he manages to improve his
players, while his career speaks for itself."
Conte, 50, won three successive Serie A titles with Juventus before
moving to Chelsea after a spell in charge of Italy. But despite
winning the Premier League and FA Cup, his two-year reign in London
was difficult and he took the Inter job following a year out.
Lukaku is Conte's headline signing, after weeks of speculation, for
the close season on a five-year contract to 2024. The 26-year-old was
also given the storied number nine jersey, previously worn by
ex-Inter captain Mauro Icardi - a possible hint the Argentine is set
to leave.
Inter, three times European champions, still seem well short
of Juventus' level but are targeting a return to the Champions
League.
"I chose Inter because of the club's project," Lukaku said. "I think
Inter are heading in the right direction and I needed a new
challenge."
Lukaku was a teenage prodigy with Anderlecht but despite playing for
Chelsea and Everton before United, remains without major titles to
his name. Something he hopes to change.
"Here, the foundations are there to do well," he said. "Through my
commitment and my desire to perform, I want to help this team achieve
big things.
"I won't get ahead of myself, but I hope we'll have achieved great
results come the end of the season."
And Lukaku's comments about his new coach are likely not to have gone
unnoticed in Manchester as United prepare for the new season under
manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - whose CV on the bench falls some way
short of Conte's.