Romelu Lukaku has made a big claim about his goalscoring form.
Romelu Lukaku was ruled out from taking part in national colours against Cyprus and Russia through a foot injury, but he has scored 45 goals in 79 appearances for his country. That record puts him on top of the Red Devils’ all-time top scorer list, 15 goals clear of Bernard Voorhoof, Paul van Himst and Eden Hazard in joint-second place.
The Manchester United striker also scored four times in the World Cup last summer helping his nation to a third-placed finish and does not think that doesn’t think there is any argument as to his status among Belgian strikers.
“People sometimes ask me if I am one of the top three Belgian strikers of all time. Yes, yes, yes, yes. I would even say that I am the best of all time. One kilometre ahead of anyone else, I’m telling you.
“I’m number one on the national team scoring list, with 34 goals in my last 33 games. What can you tell me now?” said Lukaku.
Lukaku admitted that he found life with the national team difficult to begin with, as he had to wait until his eighth cap before he found his first goals with a double against Russia in November 2010.
“It didn’t work from the beginning,” he said.
“People thought I wasn’t good in Belgium. They thought I wouldn’t score more than 25 times. I said to myself, “Wow” – I think I was barely nineteen at the time.
“Every time I play for Belgium, I play with a feeling of anger rather than pride. I told my mother that she should never come back to see me play with the Red Devils [Belgium] again, any more than my father. That’s why I wave to the camera when I score. I know she’s looking at me at home.”
The striker has been playing second fiddle to Marcus Rashford in the starting lineup, but the Belgian International has been performing well for Manchester United when he was called up by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It has been an underwhelming campaign for the Red Devils number 9, but he has scored 15 times this season and is also the highest scorer for Manchester United in the Premier League.
Despite warming the bench under the management of Solskjaer, Lukaku had admitted that the interim Manchester United manager is working on his personal improvement in the training.
“I like him. He’s really open, really honest in his communication, and keeps me hungry, so whenever I get a chance to play I just want what’s best for the team and to help the team win.,” he told The Daily Mirror.
“It is really helpful that he is a former player. If you look at my career I’ve always had good strikers helping me, so now I’m here with Ole I’m learning a lot, and every day is another day to learn, another day to improve and that’s how I see it.”
His progress his once again hindered due to a foot injury which will at least keep him out for the next two league games against Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Here’s how Twitter reacted..
Lukaku: “People sometimes ask me if I’m one of the top three Belgian strikers of all time. Yes, yes, yes. I would say I’m the best of all time. I’m number one on the list of scorers in the national team with 34 goals during my last 33 games. What can you tell me now?” #mufc [RMC]
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) March 27, 2019
Romelu Lukaku on being the best Belgian striker ever.
🗣️”People sometimes ask me if I’m one of the three best Belgian strikers of all time, yes, yes, yes, I would say that I’m the best of all time, by a mile.” pic.twitter.com/I1OMXcAYgv
— Coral (@Coral) March 27, 2019
MEN report that Romelu Lukaku is struggling to overcome the foot injury which has kept him sidelined for the past few weeks. #MUFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) March 27, 2019
Lukaku: “It did not work from the beginning [with Belgium] People thought I was not good in Belgium They thought I would not score more than 25 times I thought” Wow ” I think I was barely nineteen at the time. ” pic.twitter.com/0VCibm16ED
— Enock Kobina Essel (@kobinaessel39) March 27, 2019
What’s next?
Manchester United will take on Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday followed by the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux three days later.