STRIKER Romelu Lukaku appears to have learned from his previous experience under Jose Mourinho after admitting he will have to “work harder than ever before” when his move to Manchester United is confirmed.
The Belgium international is on the verge of completing a potential world-record move to Old Trafford, with United paying an initial £75 million plus several add-ons. It will reunite him with manager Mourinho, the man who sold him as a raw 21-year-old at Chelsea after just 15 matches and no goals.
Lukaku has improved significantly since then, scoring 33 Premier League goals in his last two seasons at Goodison Park, but knows he will have to go up another level under the Portuguese at United.
“Now it’s time to work hard, work harder than I ever did before and I’m willing to do it and hopefully it will come [off] a good way,” he said after it was announced United had reached an agreement with Everton on Saturday.
Asked about joining United, he said that the club had “probably the best manager in the world”.
“[The club is managed by] A guy who I wanted to play for since I was 10-years-old so now to have an opportunity to play under him again is great,” he added. “I have to work harder than I am doing now and I know the road is still far but I am willing to go on that path and grab that opportunity that I get.
“It’s the biggest club in the world. It’s a club that’s hungry to win the league again, to be dominant in the world again.
“This is the sort of opportunity that I always wanted since I was a child and when they came calling, I didn’t have to think twice.
“I’m really delighted to hopefully be part of their history. Who would say no to the biggest club in the world? The best stadium in England, the best fans, it’s the perfect opportunity.
“I always said that I wanted to play for a team that was challenging for every trophy that there is, and I think Manchester United at the minute wants to be that dominant team, that dominant force.”
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