It’s not exactly surprising to learn that modern day footballers are so well-drilled by club’s PR teams that, more often than not, they just say what supporters want to hear.
Actual opinions are few and far between when it comes to player interviews which is why it’s so often the most vocal and honest players – Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Roy Keane – who make for the best pundits in their post-playing careers.
The only issue with players simply saying things that fans want to hear is that they can sometimes get caught out when they move clubs and their previous comments contradict what they’ve got to say nowadays.
Enter Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgium international is set to sign for Manchester United after completing a medical this weekend.
Lukaku will join the Red Devils from Everton on a £75 million deal in time to make it on United’s preseason tour of the United States.
The 24-year-old gave his first interview since the deal was agreed to ESPN this weekend and explained why he chose United over former club Chelsea, who had been actively pursuing the striker throughout the summer.
“Who would say no to the biggest club in the world?” Lukaku said of his imminent move.
A man of his word https://t.co/KmTYt7tYeU
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) July 9, 2017
“Best stadium in England. The best fans. This is the perfect opportunity. I always said I wanted to play for a team that’s challenging for every trophy that there is.”
Cue raucous applause and fist-pumping from United supporters, for whom the above was the perfect thing to say.
But, hang on a second.
Let us remind you of a 2014 interview with Lukaku, when he was still a Chelsea player.
Linked with a move to Atletico Madrid at the time, Lukaku said something about Chelsea that was remarkably similar to what he said about United this weekend.
“I only know one thing and that is that, in my opinion, Chelsea are still the biggest club in England,” Lukaku told the Mirror three years ago. “And they have a very, very good manager!
“I have a contract with Chelsea after this summer and I am not focusing on any move to Atletico.”
And there was no way supporters were going to let him get away with that.
Romelu Lukaku today: Manchester United is the biggest club in the world
Romelu Lukaku 2014: Chelsea is the biggest club in England
— Ramez Nathan (@RamezYNathan) July 9, 2017
Lukaku in 2014 – "You know, I still have a two-year contract at the biggest club in England, because that's Chelsea." https://t.co/TEuZUkZkqc
— CFCBluesWave (@cfcBlueWave) July 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/ffsMqx/status/883963655133507584
https://twitter.com/TheBeardedRaul/status/883977089178902529
https://twitter.com/TheConteWay_/status/883989285631705088
So Lukaku said Man U is the biggest club in the world…smh
In 2014 he said the same abt Chelsea n honestly Chelsea is a better team today https://t.co/16p8v4vHEZ— Nsofwa Lombe (@NsofwaLombe) July 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/BlueCitizen007/status/884001495112437761
