Chelsea Transfer News: Romelu Lukaku Discusses Blues Exit, Jose Mourinho, More

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has rejected reports former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was responsible for his Stamford Bridge exit after insisting it was he who pushed for a move away from west London.

The Belgium international has become one of Europe's in-form scorers since moving to Goodison Park for an Everton record £28 million last summer, and he said the decision to leave was his, per the Guardian's Andy Hunter:

"

Choices were made by me. By me. Not by them. Everyone says it is Mourinho’s fault but it is not his fault because I made the decision. I went to his office to ask if I could go. He was the first one to say: ‘Good luck.’

I signed the deal with Everton at 11 o’clock and the first text message I got on my old BlackBerry was from Mourinho saying: ‘Good luck, do your best and I will see you next season.’ He was the first. Nobody knows that and that is why for me he gets immense respect. It is really sad he has to go.

He is a great character and a great man. Even though there were words said in the media, I never looked at it because I know what he did and not a lot of managers would do that.

"

It was former Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas who signed Lukaku from Anderlecht for a reported fee of £10 million in August 2011, but Mourinho encountered criticism for allowing the young attacker to leave the club.

Lukaku's absence has been all the more hurtful for Chelsea fans after seeing the player net 16 goals in 21 appearances for the Toffees this season, while the likes of Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao have struggled for form.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Chelsea are wallowing at 15th in the Premier League standings while Everton sit 10th, largely down to the form of star frontman Lukaku in what's been a strange turn of events for Chelsea and their former starlet.

Lukaku went on to emphasise just how "hard" it was for him to see Mourinho axed from his position at the Stamford Bridge helm: "It’s hard, it’s tough. Seven months ago, they won the Premier League by playing some wonderful football. It’s mad, mad. When I heard the news I thought: 'Wow.' That was the only thing I could say."

Chances always proved limited for Lukaku in west London, and he left the club on a permanent deal in 2014 after making just 15 senior appearances in three years at Chelsea, failing to score a single goal.

That record is in stark contrast to his record with Everton, which currently stands at 52 goals in just 102 appearances, equal to a ratio of more than a goal every other game.

WhoScored.com described the 22-year-old's current run of form heading into Saturday's clash at Newcastle United:

Lukaku's admission will help clear Mourinho's name among fans, who are now hoping interim manager Guus Hiddink can turn their campaign around after being named as his replacement.

The ex-Chelsea hopeful also lifted the lid on a watershed moment that helped spark his best form, divulging how super-agent Mino Raiola coaxed the best out of him, per the Daily Mail's Dominic King:

"

Let me tell you something about Mino. I remember the first conversation. He came to my house in Brussels and he had a conversation with my dad (Roger). He played for 10 years in the Belgian Premier League and no one could argue with him in my eyes.

My dad knows the game and always has an answer but when Mino spoke, my dad didn’t say anything. He was “yes, yes, yes”. That is when I knew. Mino is the one who says stuff that no one would say to me. Mean things like, “you play like a woman, you are too timid”.

Then he would take examples of Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) and (Dennis) Bergkamp and all those players. “Oh, you want to aim for the top? Well you are not playing like a top player.” He said stuff that hurt me. He told me at the end of the day it is all about goals. Goals, goals, goals, goals.

"

Upon arriving at Chelsea in 2011, Lukaku saw his path to the first team blocked by Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge. He was then loaned to West Browmich Albion for the 2012-13 campaign, where he came upon his first prosperous run as a Premier League player.

Some assumed his record of 17 goals in 38 games for the Baggies would result in a chance with his parent club, but he was instead loaned to Everton the following season, while Torres and new signing Samuel Eto'o reigned at Stamford Bridge.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Last year, the west London giants made the decision to sign Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid, and Lukaku saw that as the final straw in attempting to carve out a future at Chelsea, prompting his Merseyside move.

Costa played a major role in helping the club claim last season's Premier League title, but Chelsea have been left to ponder whether they made the right decision in allowing Lukaku to leave their shores.