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Romelu Lukaku: I turned down a move to Manchester City

On Thursday night, the first part of an interview the striker had with Sky Italy, said to have been recorded earlier in December, was released, during which he said he was unhappy with his role under Thomas Tuchel at the Blues of late and talked up a potential return to Inter.

"When I was at Inter, at the end of the first year, I turned down an offer from Manchester City which was higher than Chelsea's this summer," he explained.

"I did it because it had only been a year, it wasn't the right time to leave and I didn't want to. I wanted to do something good for Inter, because I have to say that Inter saved my career to some extent.

"I was in a deep hole at Manchester United, things weren't going well. I was a big investment for Inter but we did great things together.

"So the second year after we won the Scudetto, I went to speak with club chiefs and asked for a new contract. I did it because I told myself I'm 28 years old, my family feels great in Milan, I still have my flat there, my mother and my son could come and live there and we would all feel comfortable.

"But they didn't want to extend my contract, the possibility wasn't there. It was tough for me to accept, because in my head I told myself that I would be able to do a few more years in Milan.

"In my opinion, there are three absolute top teams in football – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Every player dreams of playing for one of these teams one day. So I thought if I ever had that possibility, I would sign a new contract with Inter and then go there.

"But it didn't happen, so I told myself that there is only one team where I could possibly see myself – Chelsea. I wasn't thinking about going there, but at one point they came in for me and I asked [Inter manager Simone] Inzaghi to leave.

"The fact that they didn't try to make me sign a new contract bothered me a bit, it hurt me even. If Inter offered me a new contract, I would have stayed, 100%. That goes without saying.

"Also the fact that I hadn't won anything in England, in eight years there, bothered me a lot. So it was hard to turn down the chance to come back here with the team I have supported since I was a child."

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - £510 00
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - £510 000 a week
3. David de Gea (Manchester United) - £375 000 a w
3. David de Gea (Manchester United) - £375 000 a week
10. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - £290 000 a we
10. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - £290 000 a week
5. Raphael Varane (Manchester United) - £340 000 a
5. Raphael Varane (Manchester United) - £340 000 a week
8. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - £300 000 a
8. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - £300 000 a week
6. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) - £325 000 a week
6. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) - £325 000 a week
9. N'Golo Kante (Chelsea) - £290 000 a week
9. N'Golo Kante (Chelsea) - £290 000 a week
4. Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) - £350 000 a w
4. Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) - £350 000 a week
7. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) - £300 000 a we
7. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) - £300 000 a week
2. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - £400 000 a
2. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - £400 000 a week

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