Inter fans are losing their patience. As Romelu Lukaku’s transfer to Chelsea is reportedly on the verge of being finalized, some Nerazzurri hardcore supporters have made their opinion clear to the club’s management on Wednesday afternoon.
As the possibility of Big Rom moving back to Stamford gained stride hour after hour, a banner featuring a sinister warning was placed outside the club’s headquarter. “Beware, club…Promises must be kept,” read the banner signed by Inter’s North Stands (Curva Nord) supporter group.
The “promise” hinted at in the message was the reassurance that Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta allegedly gave to a delegation of Nerazzurri supporters during a meeting held in May. Amid growing concerns that Inter’s winning roster would be dismantled to readjust the club’s dire economic situation, the CEO had reportedly assured the ultras that only ONE star player would be sold in the transfer market.
That seemed to be the case of wing-back Achraf Hakimi, who left Appiano Gentile with destination Paris earlier in July. But now that Lukaku’s sale appear imminent, the parting of the ways with the gigantic Belgian striker would constitute a second major blow to Inter’s ambition to confirm themselves as Italian champions and pose a serious challenge to the Champions League throne – not to mention their winning coach Antonio Conte’s abrupt departure.
The Curva Nord elaborated further on their standpoint with a message published on their Facebook page: “Any transfer market operation must be aimed at improving the roster. Cashing in on sales without adequately reinvesting is not something acceptable. That applies to any player. We will not be made fools of and we will act accordingly and in coherence with what agreed at the end of the league.”
Inter owner Suning’s financial struggles are well-known but the club initially pushed back all Chelsea’s bids to secure Lukaku’s services. But a new, gargantuan offer for €130M – which the Blues are about to present officially – coupled with a considerable salary raise for the big Belgian seems to have been enough to bend the club’s and the player’s resistance.
Much to the Nerazzurri fans’ dismay, who only three months ago were celebrating a much-awaited Scudetto and now find themselves seeing the third big architect of the title leaving.