Romelu Lukaku's return to Inter Milan is being funded by Italy’s taxpayers.
Lukaku took a huge pay-cut to seal a 12-month loan move back to the San Siro - just a year after Chelsea paid £97.5million to re-sign the Belgian striker. But the financial hit of seeing his £325,000-a-week wages slashed by a third to make the deal happen has been cushioned by a loophole in Italy’s tax laws which has already saved him £3million.
The Italian government introduced the ‘Rientro del cervelli’ regulation just under three years ago in a bid to persuade high-powered workers from leaving the country. It translates as ‘the return of the brains’ and was originally aimed at helping to prevent scientists, doctors and business specialists leaving the country as well as attracting new talent.
It gives those people dispensation to have just half of their salary subjected to normal taxes. But Serie A clubs and players have been cashing in as well.
Lukaku has already saved £3million on the tax bill that would have been due next month after he departed Inter for Stamford Bridge last summer.
He still owns three houses in Milan and those property interests enabled him to retain his status as a citizen and save a fortune in income tax. Lukaku will be another £3million better off next year as well.
Inter have paid Chelsea a loan fee of £7million for the 29-year-old, with a package of add-ons that could bring in another £3.5million.
As revealed by Mirror Sport last week, Chelsea will now step up their bid to land Manchester City's Raheem Sterling after freeing up the finance to pay the winger’s wages. Sterling has just one year left on his contract at the Etihad and City would prefer to cash in now rather than lose him for free next summer.
But the Premier League champions value the 27-year-old at around £60million - and new Chelsea owner Todd Boelhy feels that is too rich given Sterling’s contractual situation.
Chelsea would look to pay around £35million with a package of add-ons. But Sterling has to decide whether to return to city where he grew up or whether to wait for other options to present themselves.
He harbours an ambition to play abroad, but he would be a much more attractive proposition to clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona if he was a free agent.
That could prompt him to run down his contract at the Etihad, even though that would be a risky option with the World Cup approaching.
