Lukaku refuses to turn up to Chelsea training

Stuart Telford

• 18 Jul 2023 14:56 BST
• 3 min read

Romelu Lukaku refused to return to pre-season training with Chelsea on time as he attempts to force through a move to Juventus.

Lukaku was given last week off with Chelsea and Inter Milan agreeing terms on his permanent transfer - reportedly €35 million up front with €5m more to follow in add-ons.

Both clubs fully expected the player to agree terms on a permanent return to San Siro in short order, Lukaku having fired them to the Serie A title in 2021 before re-finding his form back on loan there in the second half of last season.

READ: Juventus fans PROTEST against Lukaku transfer

But Lukaku remains a Chelsea player. Inter pulled out of a deal when it came to light that his agent had negotiated a deal with Juventus, and he has no intention of accepting any of the big-money offers on the table from Saudi Arabia.

Lukaku sidelined

Lukaku was therefore expected back at Cobham on Monday, but didn't make a show according to Corriere dello Sport. He has since arrived, but is training with other fringe members of the squad while the rest head to the USA for their pre-season tour.

Lukaku looks most likely to be playing his football for Juventus next season, although the move is dependent on the Old Lady selling Dusan Vlahovic, likely to Paris Saint-Germain.

READ: Lukaku offered MASSIVE new Saudi Arabian salary

Juve have offered marginally more than Inter did - €37.5m plus €5m - but they can't fund that before they get what they hope will be €90m total package for their Serbian striker.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - who is nearing a move to Marseile - and Hakim Ziyech are among the previous first-teamers who are not on the plane for the US, where Chelsea will take on Ryan Reynold's Wrexham, Brighton, Newcastle and Fulham.