In football we are forever hearing about the next ‘big’ young star. A new week will bring another young prodigy who is supposedly the future of football yet these rumours will often amount to nothing and the name will disappear into obscurity, never to be spoken again. There is however, occasionally a name that comes along and brings with it a wave of genuine excitement over the talents of a hot new prospect. Romelu Lukaku is an example of one these names.
To be just sixteen years of age and already fighting off some of Europe’s top clubs is some feat, yet that is exactly the situation Lukaku finds himself in. The Belgian international striker is already taking the nation’s top division by storm. His 9 goals in 17 games this season have propelled Anderlect to the top of the Belgian league table and the youngster has already experienced a 5 game goal scoring streak for his club.
Lukaku may be just 18 years of age, but he already stands at 6ft 2inches tall. The striker has openly talked of his admiration for Chelsea star Didier Drogba and the youngster shares many of the Ivorian’s attributes; he is strong, very, very fast and knows where the goal is. He scored 121 goals in 88 matches at youth level; a phenomenal record and has sparked interest from Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal and AC Milan.
The London club had reportedly offered €10 million with a one year loan-back deal however; the Belgian club immediately declined the offer. The striker’s departure is inevitable as he continues to play in a league of which his abilities have already outgrown and it is surely just a matter of time before he moves to a European giant. Lukaku’s father, also a footballer in his day, is determined that his son will finish school before making any illustrious moves overseas and this has unsurprisingly delighted the board at Anderlect.
Chelsea are the current favourites to seal the strikers signature and stand in good stead due to Lukaku’s admiration of Didier Drogba. He would join an already blossoming academy at Stamford Bridge should he move to west London yet with his long list of admirers it is unsure where he will end up. Either way, expect to see this Belgian powerhouse in one of Europe’s top leagues in the next few years.
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Haven’t seen a lot of him so I can’t judge but 121 goals in 88 games at youth level is phenomenal.
That’s not him in the picture.
And you’ve got his age wrong. His height too.
Sensational journalism.
Sensational is a good thing, no?
Lukaku is 16years old. And that’s not him at the picture.
Worldclass TALENT!