Former Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has branded Romelu Lukaku's return to the San Siro as a 'big rip-off'. The 29-year-old returned to the Nerazzurri in the summer on a season-long loan after a permanent move collapsed.
Due to the Italian giants' spending restrictions amid Financial Fair Play concerns, the club were not willing to meet Chelsea's asking price and sign the Belgium international outright. Instead, Inter opted for a loan and the Blues negotiated a fee to be paid for Lukaku's services.
The striker, who sees his deal at Stamford Bridge expire in 2026, is set to return to west London at the end of the season. But, with Lukaku having already admitted that he doesn't see his prospects in west London improving, he's been heavily linked with staying at Inter for good.
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But, after picking up a number of injuries which have kept him out of Simone Inzaghi's side, doubt has been cast as to whether Inter share Lukaku's desire of a long future together. The Belgian was previously out for two months at the start of the season due to a hamstring problem before residing to the sidelines once more after suffering a thigh issue.
Lukaku, who is currently in Qatar at the World Cup, has featured just four times for the Nerazzurri in the Serie A this term, directly contributing to just two goals. And, it's because of this that the striker has been branded a 'big rip-off' by Moratti.
Speaking on Gianluca Rossi’s YouTube channel, the former Inter president said: "We almost forgot the fact that Inter are doing without the player they had based everything on, Lukaku. A big rip-off, he has practically never played."
According to ESPN in late September, Graham Potter is set to hold talks with Lukaku at the end of the season. The 47-year-old is said to have left the door open for the striker over a return in the summer.
But, as aforementioned, that could be difficult. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia last season on his Inter exit, Lukaku said: "I think everything that happened was not supposed to happen like this. How I left Inter, how I communicated with the fans, this bothers me because it is not the right time now, but even when I left it was not the right time."
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