Agent admits Lukaku back to Chelsea was a mistake, Ancelotti wanted him at Real Madrid

Federico Pastorello reveals that Antonio Conte threatened to leave Inter if they had not signed Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United in 2019 and that Carlo Ancelotti wanted the Belgian striker at Real Madrid in 2023.

Lukaku’s agent, Pastorello, spoke about Lukaku’s transfers to and from Serie A in his latest interview with Spanish newspaper AS.

The Belgian striker, now under contract with Napoli, first moved to Italy in 2019, joining Conte at Inter from Manchester United.

epa12092555 Napoli’s forward Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring the goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs CF Genoa at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, 11 May 2025. EPA-EFE/CESARE ABBATE

Two years later, however, the Belgian returned to Chelsea, but the transfer didn’t work out for either side, prompting Pastorello to claim that he shouldn’t have made the deal.

“No, it’s clear that with hindsight, probably not,” he said.

“In many ways, yes, because that year Romelu was included in the Ballon d’Or shortlist, something that had never happened before. It was a record transfer fee from the Italian league, and I believe it is still a record for Chelsea. Later on, Chelsea made other very expensive signings, but at that time, it was the second-most expensive transfer in the Premier League’s history and the most expensive in Chelsea’s history. It was the right decision at the moment.

“Then 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 [Thomas Tuchel],” continued Pastorello.

“He had come from a kind of father-son bond with Conte, and that difference in approach affected him a bit, along with the injury he suffered.

“With hindsight, maybe as an agent I would not have made that transfer. But he could also have stayed at Inter, and everything would have changed. Conte left, and Hakimi too, who was important in Romelu’s season there. It’s easy to talk with hindsight, but we don’t know what would have happened if he had stayed.”

Lukaku returned to Inter for a one-season loan spell in 2022 and then joined Roma, also on loan in 2023. That summer, however, the striker had a slight chance of joining Real Madrid.

“I have to be honest and say there was an opportunity at a time when it wasn’t clear where Romelu was going to go, and with Ancelotti as coach,” Pastorelli said.

Ancelotti wanted Lukaku at Real Madrid in 2023

SEVILLE, SPAIN – APRIL 26: Carlo Ancelotti, Head Coach of Real Madrid, reacts during the Copa del Rey Final match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja on April 26, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

“They were considering strengthening their attack, but they were already focused on making the big signing of Kylian Mbappé the following year and didn’t want to spend on a loan deal. So let’s say there was a chance because Ancelotti wanted him; he has always had a high regard for Lukaku, but unfortunately, it didn’t materialise.

“Lukaku adapted well to Italy; he speaks six or seven languages, and he feels more at home with the culture there. He’s always felt comfortable wherever he’s gone, but Italy is where he feels best. He was disappointed by other professional experiences, which I wasn’t involved in, and he needed certainty.

“The most important thing for a player is the coach. Antonio called him and told him to come. He immediately said yes. There wasn’t even a discussion. It was the perfect time to work together again, and he results have proven that right. Romelu won his second Scudetto, and it was a great source of satisfaction because he did it as a key player.”

Pastorello is also the agent of Inter striker Ange-Yoan Bonny, who joined the Nerazzurri from Parma last summer, reuniting with Cristian Chivu.

In this case, however, the coach’s influence was not as significant as Conte’s.

Conte threatened to leave Inter if they didn’t sign Lukaku

NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between SSC Napoli and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 01, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“For Bonny, it’s different. It was more of a decision made by Inter’s management than by the coach, although they are now working together, which is an advantage,” Pastorello admitted.

“Lukaku’s arrival at Inter the first time and then at Napoli the second time, both under Conte, was really driven by the coach. I remember when I moved him from Manchester United to Inter; Conte’s presence there was decisive, he even threatened to leave if they didn’t sign him. So from that point of view, Conte was truly a crucial factor in making the deal happen.

“In Bonny’s case, much less so, because director Piero Ausilio had already started pursuing that option back in March. So Bonny basically already felt like an Inter player, not so much because of the coach, but because the club itself wanted him. Simone Inzaghi had also approved the transfer, so it’s a slightly different story. Then, of course, he and Chivu have started working together again, which is certainly an advantage since he already knows the coach’s expectations, and that can definitely help him.”