Romelu Lukaku: My season back at Chelsea left an anger inside me

Romelu Lukaku has admitted that his year back at Stamford Bridge has left him angry and determined to prove a point at Inter Milan as Chelsea prepare a bid to try to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona.

Having allowed Lukaku to return to Inter on loan and sold Timo Werner back to RB Leipzig, Chelsea are expected to formalise their interest in Aubameyang, whose representatives met Barcelona officials on Tuesday.

Aubameyang is happy at Barcelona and not pushing to leave, but would listen to any proposal from Chelsea if they can find an agreement with the Spanish club.

Barcelona are also happy with Aubameyang, who has scored 13 goals in 23 games since joining on a free transfer from Arsenal at the end of the January transfer window and is not involved in any salary disputes with the club.

But the complicated financial situation at Barca, which is preventing the club from registering new players, may force them to listen to a Chelsea offer for Aubameyang and it is understood that his future may not be linked to that of Memphis Depay who has also been linked with Chelsea and could be allowed to leave the Nou Camp.

Chelsea are still waiting to hear whether or not Frenkie de Jong will decide to leave Barcelona as they attempt to agree a fee for the midfielder should he agree to a move.

And Chelsea are also expected to make a new offer for Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana, who the Foxes value in excess of £80million.

Lukaku is now preparing to start the Serie A season back at Inter and the Belgian clearly feels he has a score to settle following an unhappy year back at Chelsea.

“The season at Chelsea gave me extra motivation to do even better than before,” he said. “I think in one year everyone has forgotten about the things I am capable of doing on the pitch.

“That is a kind of anger that I have inside me. That now the team has it too, which didn’t win last year, all together we hope to do better and bring something home.”

Chelsea already have a broad agreement for Lukaku to remain at Inter for a second season on loan if this campaign goes well.

Reflecting on what went wrong after his £97.5m move to Stamford Bridge last year, Lukaku told DAZN: “So many things. I think before, when I left, I wanted to take revenge at Chelsea because when I was young it was my team for 11 years. I had the opportunity to go back there and thought I would be a hero, but that wasn’t the case.

“In March, when I heard there was an opportunity to come back here, slowly I didn’t say anything, but toward the end of the season we did a very good job with the club and I was able to come back here.

“I make reflections only at the end of the season, so after the last game I put myself to think what my situation was. I saw that as a player with Inter I did well, the season at Chelsea for me was difficult. I had no doubts, that’s why I made the decision to come back here.”

Lukaku pointedly left out Chelsea when listing the clubs who have shaped his development as a player.

“It was destiny to play for Inter, like for Anderlecht and Chelsea,” he said. “It was what I imagined, Inter and Anderlecht and Everton gave me the opportunity to become the player I am.

“The love of the people and the fans, for me and for my family, I thank them and I still apologise for how I left, but I have to speak on the pitch.”

Acknowledging he will now be expected to rediscover his best form, Lukaku added: “The pressure is there in training. There is always someone always provoking in training, this is the biggest pressure, the rest doesn’t matter. I am focused on the pitch, I don’t read newspapers, I work hard and in the end Inter has to win, the rest doesn’t matter.”