Lukaku shuns ‘has‑been’ talk, insists performance silences critics

Romelu Lukaku answered today’s questions at 20:03 about the recent criticism branding senior Belgium players as ‘has‑beens’. The striker said he refuses to dwell on the remarks, concentrating instead on his football mindset and urging the squad to do the same.

The criticism targeted the leaders of the Belgium national team coached by Rudi Garcia, labeling them as ‘has‑beens’, a term implying they belong to the past. The comment sparked discussion about the role of experienced players in the side.

When asked whether the ‘has‑beens’ label had become a recurring theme inside the Red Devils’ camp, Lukaku dismissed it. He argued that focusing on external commentary allows negativity to infiltrate the squad, which he considers detrimental.

Lukaku told , "Nee. Kijk, hoe meer je je bezighoudt met wat er in de buitenwereld gebeurt en wordt gezegd, hoe meer dat in de groep sluipt. En dat is niet goed". He emphasized that the team should avoid letting outside opinions affect internal dynamics.

The Belgium top scorer added, "Op grote toernooien hou ik me daar echt niet mee bezig. Ik focus op het voetbal. Dat is mijn mindset en die probeer ik ook over te brengen op de groep". He stressed that his concentration remains on football performance rather than media narratives.

Lukaku noted that "Velen gaan daar in mee, sommigen niet. Iedereen heeft zijn eigen manier.". He concluded that listening to what is said about you is pointless, because "als je goed presteert, wat gaan ze dan nog zeggen?".

The contrast between media criticism and Lukaku’s performance‑first approach highlights a clear priority for the Belgium camp. His stance suggests the squad will keep its focus on upcoming tournaments, leaving external judgments to fade.