Lukaku charms the Sclessin crowd and issues a challenge to Fenerbahçe
Romelu Lukaku took advantage of a visit to the Sclessin stadium, the place where he was whistled seventeen years ago, to send a double message to his Turkish club, Fenerbahçe, hoping to convince them to start him.
A memorable memory at Sclessin
The crowd at Sclessin cheered Lukaku, hugging him like a Standard hero, the club that had been crowned champion there in 2009. At the time, the young Anderlecht prospect, then sixteen years old, was whistled by the same referee during a playoff against Standard, where he replaced Victor Bernárdez in the 65th minute. Despite a few flashes of class, he did not score and Standard kept the title.
Seventeen years later, Lukaku returns to the warm‑up area of the same stadium, wearing a hood, and the crowd chants his name. Standard supporters, among others, welcome him with an enthusiasm that goes beyond the borders of Belgian football.
The message addressed to Fenerbahçe
In an interview, Lukaku said: “I will have a discussion with the club when I return,” recalling his desire to play regularly in Turkey. He also commented on the performance of Turkish defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı, stating that the Turks were focusing too much on the past.
Coach Mark van Bommel, present before the match, had explained his decision not to start Lukaku, preferring De Ketelaere for a high press, while emphasizing that Lukaku was perfectly fit to play. Nevertheless, the number 9 displayed an impressive “Croatian sprint,” recalling his contribution to the 2014 World Cup.
Standard keep Touzghar and give Lawrence a fresh start at Sclessin
In the dressing room, Lukaku exchanged words with captain Youri Tielemans, slipping him advice before kickoff. He also had a long discussion with Joaquin Seys, a product of Club Brugge, who hung on his words.
The striker’s comment on television was: “I think they have focused too much on the past.” Before the match, van Bommel added: “Before he signed, he and I thought he would play…”. These remarks illustrate the tension between the player’s expectations and the club’s strategy.
The crowd at Sclessin, the Red Devils and Anderlecht supporters unanimously expressed their support, reminding that the love for “Big Rom” knows no borders. Even the newspaper Sports highlighted that Belgian football was once again under Lukaku’s spell.
In conclusion, Lukaku hopes that his gesture at Sclessin and his public message to Fenerbahçe will be enough to change his status in Turkey and secure his place among the Red Devils for the next match at the Stade de France.