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Cape Town - Romelu Lukaku has revealed he rejected the chance to join Juventus in the off-season in favour of heading to Everton, who he believes are the perfect fit for him.
The striker joined the Toffees from Chelsea for a club record £28m in July, having spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Goodison Park.
Having impressed at Everton, Lukaku was on the radar of a number of top clubs, including Italian champions Juventus, but he decided to remain with Roberto Martinez's side.
"I thought about Serie A and Juventus because they are a big club,” Lukaku told the Liverpool Echo. “But for me, Everton was perfect.
"I’m here and I’m happy.
"I don’t regret any choices I’ve made. Everton was the best choice I could make as a young player who wants to progress and develop.
"This club is a good fit for me. They made so many efforts to get me. I feel at home here."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has said he felt Lukaku lacked the mentality of a top striker and therefore did not succeed at the Blues, but not surprisingly the 21-year-old believes this is not the case.
“At the big clubs it’s a bit different,” he said. “Chelsea was difficult because I’d always been a first-team player at my other clubs.
“At 16 I went into the Anderlecht side, the best team in Belgium.
“I had my chance and I took it. I was top scorer there and we won the league and I then scored even more.
“When I went to Chelsea I knew it would be hard but I proved in some games I deserved a chance.
“At some point you have to make the decision: ‘Do you want to be a squad member or do you want to build your career?’
“I chose the latter and I think I am in a team now where there is that ambition to be one of those big teams.
“Everton play good football, we play at the top part of the league and everyone wants to win.
“We want to show that last year wasn’t a fluke.
“Our mission is to get that Champions League slot because it was in our hands last season and we let it slip.”
The striker joined the Toffees from Chelsea for a club record £28m in July, having spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Goodison Park.
Having impressed at Everton, Lukaku was on the radar of a number of top clubs, including Italian champions Juventus, but he decided to remain with Roberto Martinez's side.
"I thought about Serie A and Juventus because they are a big club,” Lukaku told the Liverpool Echo. “But for me, Everton was perfect.
"I’m here and I’m happy.
"I don’t regret any choices I’ve made. Everton was the best choice I could make as a young player who wants to progress and develop.
"This club is a good fit for me. They made so many efforts to get me. I feel at home here."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has said he felt Lukaku lacked the mentality of a top striker and therefore did not succeed at the Blues, but not surprisingly the 21-year-old believes this is not the case.
“At the big clubs it’s a bit different,” he said. “Chelsea was difficult because I’d always been a first-team player at my other clubs.
“At 16 I went into the Anderlecht side, the best team in Belgium.
“I had my chance and I took it. I was top scorer there and we won the league and I then scored even more.
“When I went to Chelsea I knew it would be hard but I proved in some games I deserved a chance.
“At some point you have to make the decision: ‘Do you want to be a squad member or do you want to build your career?’
“I chose the latter and I think I am in a team now where there is that ambition to be one of those big teams.
“Everton play good football, we play at the top part of the league and everyone wants to win.
“We want to show that last year wasn’t a fluke.
“Our mission is to get that Champions League slot because it was in our hands last season and we let it slip.”
