Ashley Young slams Man Utd for selling Lukaku

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 May 2021 13:54 BST
• 5 min read

Ashley Young has slammed former club Manchester United for selling Romelu Lukaku to Inter, saying that he “couldn’t understand the decision”.

Lukaku left Man United under a cloud in the summer of 2019 after losing his place in the first team and having been heavily criticised by fans, ex-players and the media.

He joined Inter for €80 million and has been a revelation in Italy’s fashion capital.

READ MORE: Lukaku silences Man Utd haters

Lukaku has scored 61 goals in 92 games and this season led Inter to their first Scudetto in 11 years.

Meanwhile, Man Utd have failed to win a trophy since his departure, although they are in the final of the Europa League this month.

“I said it at the time, I couldn’t understand the decision to sell Lukaku,” Young told Sky Sports.

“Whether it was made quickly or not, Romelu has proved a lot of people wrong.

“He’s worked unbelievably hard. There was talk that he was overweight and couldn’t do this or that. He’s smashed record and made history in Italy, he’s been unbelievable for the club.

Lukaku: Inter statistics in 2020/21

“For me he was fantastic even in the Premier League, to go out there and face another challenge, I think it was the right choice for him. He deserves all the plaudits he is getting.”

Young himself followed Lukaku to San Siro, joining Inter in January 2020 for a small fee after nine years at Old Trafford.

The 35-year-old has also been a success in Italy, although he has lost his place in the first team during the second half of this season.

“It became a massive decision,” Young said. “I was club captain and going into my tenth year, but the club was evolving and changing.

“Ole was there and he was doing really well. It was a decision I had to make in footballing terms. I knew how fit I was and I knew I could play week in and week out.

“A lot is said about age, more so in England than in other countries. If you know how fit you are then there is no problem.

“I sat down with Ole and asked about my chances of playing. He was truthful, I understood what he was saying, it was going to be limited. There was a contract put on the table.

“But I didn’t want to be an afterthought, I did not want to sit there another year and play a bit part. I know I can get up and down like I was 20 years old.

“Being told by one of the biggest teams in the world like Inter that you are going to play every week, I told my representatives ‘let’s get the deal done’.”

Young’s contract at Inter expires at the end of the season and he is likely to return to England.