The former Red Devils defender acknowledges that the Belgian will always score goals, but has questioned his value to those at Old Trafford
Romelu Lukaku was never right for Manchester United, says Phil Neville, with the Belgian frontman having completed an €80 million (£74m/$90m) move to Inter.
Gary Neville has suggested that his attitude is not right, with the ex-England international’s brother claiming that the forward is not the right fit for the footballing philosophies ingrained in United’s psyche.
“He started well, didn’t he? He started well,” Phil Neville told PA Sport.
“I’ll be honest with you, I never felt as if he was a United centre forward. That was my feeling.
“But he started well, then obviously he lost a little bit of confidence and then found it difficult to get back up to form.
“I think there was always that feeling of was he fit enough? And was his style suited to playing football for Manchester United? That was my question.
“He’ll always score goals wherever he goes. He’ll score goals for Inter.
“But the way you want to play, you’ve got to fit the right people on the bus and Romelu Lukaku was never that person.”
Neville’s fellow Class of ’92 member, Paul Scholes, is also of the opinion that Lukaku did not fit the system at the Theatre of Dreams, particularly with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now trying to take the club back to its ball-playing roots while placing greater emphasis on youth.
He added: “I don’t think he was suited to Ole either.
“Ole wants someone with a bit of energy, a bit of speed, someone who is going to work hard [but] he’ll score goals.”
Lukaku leaves United having found the target 42 times in 96 appearances.
pygmy
87
Everton Lukaku>>>
Kabara15
71
How can we believe your rubbish statement while you can't manage for at least one season at Valencia, like it or not Big Rom is the best and far better than Rashford #fact#
Zacbcku
55
it's surprising to read Chelsea, Liverpool and arsenal fans admitting lukaku was a beast while utd fans are saying the opposite. which style are we talking about that lukaku didn't fit in? can someone tell me what is utd style? A player who scored for fun at west brom, Everton, Belgium and who outscored everybody in his 2 seasons at utd with 48 goals in an average squad, is bad for olé? who was better than him? rashford? Sanchez? The problem is olé living in the past, favoring average English and academy graduates. was rashford, Sanchez or lingard better than lukaku?
Dejay-Dodzie
55
I'm already fed up with these "legend this" "legend that"; "class of whatever" and the "those days talk". Why not focus on building a legacy of 2019/20 that will also resound in the next years to come. Please stop making shadows of innocent young talents. Get the right business done and focus on how to get the best out of the available talents. Seriously, which united player currently has scored more goals than Lukaku in the time he has been with United? Pfff
Nuddelory
51
Phil Neville!! you are a complete hypocrite, when someone is with you you praise them but when they turn their back you speak ill about them. you said he scored goals anywhere he goes. my question is didn't he score for Man.u ? look at all the questionable midfield he played with, Lukaku was very Rugged with a fighting spirit. Your Rashford play like primary school pupils, Rashford miss alot of Goals last season. Ole doesn't like Lukaku for no reasons known to us, maybe off the pitch issues but if it's for the sake of the football we all watching? then you and Ole will regret speaking bad about him. you talk of speed!! you hypocrite tell me two players that run better than Lukaku In Manchester United team. The coach doesn't like him and his gone. watched him scored fantastic goals for Inter. Lukaku good luck to you,we wish you well.
donatello_pl
46
I agree. He never really fitted into the Manchester United style of play, that's why he didn't score as much as he did back when he was in Everton
boneklsy
44
Lukaku leaving is a win to united. Lukaku never was Man United material. Get a good striker, like the good old days. Lukaku is strong but terrible with ball control.
Buwklosty
43
lukaku is the best and was the best at unite, but the problem was no one does fed Romeu at man United till today. our wingers are useless and lazy midfield so believe me u will see lukaku at inter shine..
Christening
37
Easy to say that now. He got the opportunity to play for United and he took it. Done well in his first season then I dunno what went wrong the season after I wish him luck anyway
fusiklno
28
why will you not say he was not the right choice for Manchester United with all the British players at United how many of them have proven thire abilities none you sit down any open your mouth talking any how .that is how you British people are look at what happened to Jose Mourinho you were the first to open your mouth to talk bad about him when he left nothing changes you started again saying United has a lot of problems to be solved both cam to think of with how many British players have ever proven their abilities out of England no one till today and tomorrow it will still be same freenas are helping you guys to build EPL
SingamFootball
15
but Lukaku has made ManUtd €80M richer by now
SINGAM23
12
Gary Neville:- ''Lukaku was never right for Man Utd'' (and why did they bought him in the first place and made him as their prime jewel)