Exclusive
DON'T PUSH YOUR LUK
Romelu Lukaku is FIT to play for Man Utd – but club won’t risk him until Inter Milan transfer is either done or collapses
ROMELU LUKAKU is fit – despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claiming injury will rule him out of today’s clash with Tottenham.
The Belgian will sit out the pre-season friendly in Shanghai this morning, the fourth game he has missed on Manchester United’s summer tour.
4
4
4
But SunSport can reveal the striker is actually able to take part in matches, but the club and Lukaku have decided it is not worth risking him getting injured and scuppering a £75million move to Inter Milan.
For the past two weeks United have only described Lukaku’s injury as a “niggle” which has seen him sit out the two matches in Australia and last weekend’s win over Inter in Singapore.
But the 26-year-old has actually been taking part in training with the rest of the squad and was pictured training alone during a session at the Yuanshen Stadium in Shanghai.
Lukaku did feel a slight problem in his ankle the day before the opening tour match against Perth Glory, and it was decided not to risk aggravating it.
Even then the issue was so minor it is believed he would have been able to play if he had taken a painkiller, and since then the condition has not worsened.
But after telling United boss Solskjaer last earlier this month he wanted to leave, it has been decided between club and player not to risk suffering an injury by playing any games which would threaten his departure from Old Trafford.
United are just as keen to ensure they can push Inter to meet their £75m valuation for the forward, and have been happy enough taking the preventative measures even though it means Lukaku is a fortnight behind on his fitness levels.
Speaking in Shanghai yesterday, Solskjaer said: “Lukaku won't be fit, no. He has been working with a physio the last few days so I don't think he will make this one, no.
"He got injured in training. It is not too bad, if it was worse we would have sent him home.
“Of course it’s never nice to be a player who misses out on important fitness work but also team building work, understanding, tactical approach.
“He’ll just have to make that up later on.”
Latest Man Utd news
Inter are trying to raise the funds to be able to meet United’s asking price, and are looking to offload Mauro Icardi to help finance a bid.
But because their season does not start until late August, Lukaku has been relaxed about missing match action so far, especially having reported back for pre-season training a week early.
Yet United now want the Italian side to push on with sealing the deal, because they need time to bring in a replacement before the transfer window shuts on August 8.
4
Man Utd's striker Lukaku cuts a frustrated figure in training with £75m transfer stalling
Topics