Romelu Lukaku’s Agent Condemns Saudi Pro League for His Client's Difficult Transfer Window

• Romelu Lukaku found a new home for the 2023/24 season
• The Belgian striker joined AS Roma last month, but it was a frustrating summer transfer window
• Lukaku's agent has blamed a difficult window on the Saudi Pro League

Romelu Lukaku's agent has blamed the Saudi Pro League (SPL) for his client's difficult summer transfer window. The Belgian striker ended up joining AS Roma on loan late last month.

The 30-year-old spent last season on loan at Inter Milan and helped them reach the Champions League final, but struggled to find a new home in the summer.

Lukaku rejoined his former club Chelsea for £97.5 million in 2021 but fell out with manager Thomas Tuchel before returning to Inter last season.

He was reportedly expected to return to Simone Inzaghi's side, but negotiations collapsed. Lukaku was then linked with a move to Juventus, which involved a swap deal with Dusan Vlahovic but the deal never materialized.

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The former Everton and Manchester United striker reportedly received offers from Saudi Arabia but opted to remain in Europe, eventually reuniting with his former manager Jose Mourinho, per BBC.

Lukaku's agent blasts SPL

The representative of the Roma striker, Sebastien Ledure, has said SPL's extravagant spending complicated his client's move away from the London side.

"It was very difficult, even impossible at the start of the transfer window, to talk about a loan solution. And what the owners of Chelsea were looking for was...a permanent transfer. And the real change that happened this summer was the arrival of Saudi clubs on the international transfer market," via 90min.

SPL clubs have splashed the cash this summer, luring top players from European clubs like Neymar, Ruben Neves, Sadio Mane, Fabinho, Riyad Mahrez and many others.

"They have set the bar so high in terms of the transfer compensation offered to European clubs and in this case to Chelsea, that it has become very difficult for European clubs..."

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The striker has already made his debut for Roma. He played 19 minutes for the Serie A side against AC Milan.

Pellegrini questions Lukaku's move

Sports Brief reported that Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini questioned Lukaku's transfer to the club when the circulation grew that the former Manchester United player was heading to Rome.

Pellegrini did not doubt the Belgian's ability as a player but was unsure what he would bring to the team and would rather wait and see before making a conclusion.