Manager Jose Mourinho stated the striker flourishes when he feels loved following Romelu Lukaku’s first goal for Roma on Sunday in a 7-0 victory over Empoli.
The summer saw Chelsea lend the Belgian player to the team on a season-long loan from the Italian capital.
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Lukaku, 30, rejoined Chelsea for £97.5 million in 2021, but his comeback was disappointing and he was not in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans as the new manager.
Jose Mourinho stated that Romelu Lukaku “needs to feel loved and wanted.”
The Portuguese, who worked with Lukaku at Chelsea and Manchester United, added: “When he came here, he could sense the team needed a player like him.
“He likes to win – that’s in his nature. I believe he is quite content.”
Lukaku, 30, spent last season on loan at Inter Milan, where he played in Manchester City’s Champions League final defeat.
However, they were unable to come to an agreement with Chelsea, who he had rejoined from the Italians in August 2021, to sign him on a permanent basis.
He then signed for Roma, who had just four points after their first four Serie A games, after making it obvious that he did not want to return to Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho said that the forward’s confidence will benefit from scoring his first goal.
He said: “That wasn’t a big deal for me. Maybe it was for him – you know what footballers are like, especially forwards, they live to score.
“He’s in intelligent player who since arriving has made it clear that first and foremost what matters is that Roma score, not that he scores.”
Mourinho added that Inter have “no reason to be angry” at Lukaku after their derby victory over AC Milan on Saturday.
“They won the derby 5-1 and have an amazing team with lots of forwards,” added Mourinho, who managed Inter from 2008-2010.”
“They should be happy for their former coach, who needed Lukaku.”