Why Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku Is Still the Real Deal (Video)

Less than three minutes into Chelsea's preseason clash with MLS side Seattle Sounders, Romelu Lukaku put European football on notice: He's still here.

With Josh McEachran, another of the club's youngsters, battling for possession and threading an inch-perfect pass through to the 6'3" striker, the big man did the rest himself.

Receiving the ball deep in Seattle's half, shoulder-to-shoulder with the retreating centre-back, Lukaku promptly knocked the ball a good 10 feet ahead and sprinted past his opponent with surprising, Drogba-like pace.

And then, in one swift motion, the Belgian beast controlled the ball and shrugged off his man, positively embarrassing the defender with his dominating strength.

The finish was an afterthought—a powerful blast past a helpless goalkeeper.

Chelsea were one-nil up, two and a half minutes into the new season.

For those watching, suddenly everything had changed.

This was Romelu Lukaku—the man who had failed to do anything in his twelve appearances for Chelsea last season, having completed a transfer from Anderlecht worth close to £18 million a little over a year ago.

Granted the goal was scored against a team inferior to most in the Premier League.

Granted it was a preseason friendly.

Nonetheless, it takes a heck of a player to score a goal like that, and the performance will surely raise doubts in manager Roberto di Matteo's mind over whether or not to send the 19-year-old out on loan next season.

Didier Drogba is gone, and unless the Blues make an earth-shattering move for Napoli's star man Edinson Cavani, there is a void to be filled in the Chelsea attack.

Is Romelu Lukaku the man to fill it?

After today's showing, he may just be.