Romelu Lukaku has stated that he is open to playing in Saudi Arabia after who rejected a transfer to Al Hilal one year ago.
The 31-year-old striker, currently on loan at Roma from Chelsea, faces an uncertain future as Chelsea aims to secure a permanent transfer for him.
Chelsea, keen to offload Lukaku’s £325,000-a-week ($415,419) wages and raise funds for new signings, are reluctant to sanction another loan move. Lukaku has two years remaining on his Chelsea contract, and the club seeks to recoup some of the £97.5m they paid Inter Milan in 2021.
Chelsea accepted an offer from Al Hilal last summer, but Lukaku rejected the proposal. However, Lukaku now views the Saudi Pro League more favorably, citing the influx of big stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema.
“Saudi Arabia would not stop me now,” Lukaku said. “The level there will only rise, to a much higher level than many people think. More and more footballers will tend to play there.”
Lukaku reveals his future decisions will be his own. “I am going to make a choice and once I explain it, everyone will agree with me,” he said. “Every time I decided to stay or leave somewhere, it turned out to be the right choice because of certain factors — for example, my rapport with the coach.”
Looking ahead, Romelu Lukaku reiterated his desire to end his career at Anderlecht, where he turned professional in 2006. “It will happen,” he said. “And much earlier than many people think. I left Belgium when I was 18.”
