Antonio Conte has urged Inter to reach an agreement with Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku this summer, despite the Belgium international’s season being disrupted by injury. Conte believes Lukaku, who was a key part of his title-winning Inter side in 2021, still has the quality to make an impact in games.
Speaking at an awards ceremony in Arezzo, Conte said: ‘Romelu showed even in those 30 minutes in the final what he can do, because that was the period of the game where Inter had the most chances. Putting a player of his strength onto the pitch makes the difference. He had injury problems this year but nobody can doubt his quality.’
Conte also fired a dig at Tottenham, who he was sacked by in March before Spurs went on to finish eighth in the Premier League. ‘The last experience, like all of them really, had some things that were positive and some less so,’ Conte said. ‘The experience was wonderful, we did the maximum possible and gave all that we had. When I arrived, the team was in eighth or ninth place, yet we qualified for the Champions League. Then this season, with the side in fourth position, I decided we should part ways with Tottenham. Some had decided to settle for less.’