Romelu Lukaku's Agent Admits Chelsea Move Was a Mistake

Romelu Lukaku is currently playing for Napoli

Romelu Lukaku's agent, Federico Pastorello, admits the striker's move to Chelsea was a mistake, but praises his current form at Napoli.

“It was the right decision at the time...”

Romelu Lukaku's agent, Federico Pastorello, has admitted that the striker's return to Chelsea wasn't the best decision. Lukaku had previously played for Chelsea before joining Inter Milan, where he enjoyed a successful stint. His return to Stamford Bridge didn't quite work out as planned.

Pastorello expressed his reservations about the move, stating that Chelsea signed the wrong version of Lukaku. He believes Lukaku thrived under Antonio Conte's system at Inter but struggled with Thomas Tuchel's tactics at Chelsea. This view is backed by Lukaku's own admission that his return to Chelsea was a 'mistake'.

Lukaku's struggles at Chelsea led to him leaving the club and rejoining Inter Milan on loan. He later joined Napoli permanently and has since rediscovered his form under Conte's guidance. Pastorello also revealed that Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti had considered signing Lukaku but ultimately prioritized other options.

🗣️ Fede Pastorello, Romelu Lukaku’s agent: “There was a chance for Lukaku to join Real Madrid.

They were thinking of a forward, but they were already focused on Mbappé for the next year, so they didn’t want to spend on a loan deal.

Ancelotti would’ve liked him, but… pic.twitter.com/zr3tyIigvX

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 16, 2025

Romelu Lukaku's agent, Federico Pastorello, reflected on the striker's tumultuous second spell at Chelsea, stating that he wouldn't take Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge if given another chance. “In hindsight, probably not,” Pastorello told AS, hinting that the move didn't work out for either party.

Pastorello elaborated that Lukaku's experience at Chelsea was marked by difficulties, particularly with coach Thomas Tuchel. “There are human factors; no one could have predicted Lukaku's difficulties, perhaps not so much environmental, since he already knew the club, but more about his relationship with the coach,” he explained.

The agent also revealed that Lukaku had a “kind of father-son bond” with Antonio Conte, which made the transition to Tuchel's system challenging. This, combined with an injury, affected Lukaku's performance, leading to a less-than-ideal outcome for both the player and the club.

“But Romelu was included in the Ballon d'Or shortlist that year, something that had never happened before, and it was a record transfer from the Italian league.

“It was the right decision at the time. Then there are the human variables; no one could have predicted Lukaku's difficulties, perhaps not so much environmental ones, because he knew the club, but rather in his relationship with the coach.

“He came from an almost father-son relationship with (Antonio) Conte, and that difference in approach affected him in some way, along with the injury he suffered.

“If it hadn't been for that, the story would have been different.”

Asked if Lukaku could've signed for Real Madrid, Pastorello added: “Real Madrid is the best club in the world, for several reasons. There was a small chance, but in the end, they were already focused on the big signing of Mbappé for the following year and didn't want to spend money on a loan.”

He also said: “Lukaku has adapted well to Italy. When Antonio called him and asked him to join Napoli, he accepted immediately. It wasn't even discussed. It was the best time to work together again, and the results proved him right.”