Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo went head-to-head in Serie A last season with the two global superstars competing as Inter Milan and Juventus fought it out for the Scudetto. They finished first and second in the scoring charts, Ronaldo winning with 29 goals while Lukaku bagged 24.
However, Lukaku won the title with Inter which helped the now-Chelsea striker has won the award for Best Player in the 2020-21 season, beating his rival to the crown after finding his ruthless streak under Antonio Conte. Both players have not yet hit the heights expected after their moves to the Premier League this summer – with Ronaldo returning to Manchester United – and the Belgian expressed his desire to return to Italy during an explosive interview with Sky Italia in December.
Lukaku has only scored five goals in 19 Premier League games this season and has found himself behind Kai Havertz in the Stamford Bridge pecking order. Ronaldo meanwhile has fared slightly better with 12 goals in 24 matches for United. After the award, Lukaku spoke about his pride of beating the man who recently became Fifa’s all-time top goalscorer.
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Speaking to the Evening Standard, Lukaku said: “The club [Inter] always backed us and so did the fans who I want to thank. Being ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo is something that doesn’t happen every day. To me, he is one of the best three players in football history. He also brought me to a different level because he does great things.
“I am really happy to be included in the Serie A top XI for last season. I want to thank all those who voted for me and the team that helped me a lot, the coach and his staff. It was the team’s achievement and it’s an honour to be in the top XI. It was my dream as a kid to play in Serie A and I did all I could to achieve it. I am satisfied to have done it.
“It’s an honour to have been named best player of the season. It’s something that I could not achieve without the help of the team. They helped me realise great things. We won together improving a lot. Everyone developed and the coach was always close to us. This award gives me a lot of confidence for the future.”
Lukaku, 28, scored 42 goals in 96 games for United after arriving from Everton for £75million in 2017. He signed for Inter after two years at Old Trafford.
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