ROMELU LUKAKU was supposed to be the missing piece, the man who would see Chelsea leapfrog Manchester City and Liverpool to win the Premier League.
The Belgian, 29, had just helped Inter Milan end Juventus' decade of dominance to win the Serie A title in emphatic manner.
The Blues were clearly missing a centre-forward - and they thought they'd found the perfect solution in their former youth team man, Lukaku.
Chelsea moved heaven and earth to land the ex-Manchester United striker.
In fact, the club's transfer team sold NINE stars and rising talents to finance a deal for Lukaku.
Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi led the exodus.
But they were joined by Olivier Giroud, Victor Moses, Tino Livramento, Ike Ugbo, Lewis Bate and Dynel Simeu in quitting Stamford Bridge.
Abraham was among the top scorers in Serie A last season and helped Roma win the Europa Conference League.
Tomori helped AC Milan win their first Serie A title in 11 years.
Guehi joined Crystal Palace and thrived - with all three now part of the England squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup - while Livramento has gone on to become one of the hottest young prospects in the Premier League.
How Chelsea could use them all now, with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen quitting and Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso and Lukaku looking to move on.
In all, the Blues bagged £98m for their nine "fringe" players and spent £97.5m on Lukaku, who quickly repaid them by revealing his desire to head back to the San Siro just two months later.
This summer, Chelsea are desperately seeking squad reinforcements all over the pitch, including up front with Lukaku on the brink of returning to Inter Milan on an initial loan deal.
The Italian giants have seen a £5m loan bid rejected as the West Londoners demand closer to £20m up front.
Fans once praised Chelsea's decision to trim the fat and sign a superstar.
But now many supporters are calling the move the "worst transfer in history".
On Chelsea's decision to sell nine players to finance the Lukaku deal, one fan at the time wrote: "Chelsea's sales this summer... Marina (Granovskaia) has done it again."
But the tweet has quickly bitten them on the backside, with football fans slating the Blues for their truly awful decision.
One wrote: "Chelsea paid £97m for a year of Romelu Lukaku. Comfortably the worst transfer in the history of football."
Another pointed out: "We sold Guehi, Tomori, Livramento and Abraham all to fund Lukaku. This summer we are in the market for 2 CBs, a RWB and a Striker…"
A third moaned: "We sold 100m worth of academy talent to fund Lukaku for him to leave after a year for a 95m loss. Inter have made an absolutely mockery of us."
Another recalled: "The amount of times I refreshed Twitter for Lukaku's here we go last summer only for me to be doing it even more this summer for his departure. How times change."
One joked: "If you ever feel useless just remember that Chelsea bought Lukaku 2 times, and he flopped both times."
A rival fan laughed: "Inter Milan sold Lukaku to Chelsea for €100m ten months ago and now offering Chelsea €5m loan fee."
And that was the general consensus as another tweeted: "Chelsea paid €100M for Lukaku last season only for inter to ask him back for €5M."
FootballBible
0
Ok let’s assume you are right about the interview, forget it. Why he doesn’t want to stay at Chelsea now and fight for a place?? Why is he behind bosses and pushing for a transfer himself?? He doesn’t want to play for a club who spent 98m for his services 🤷🏻♂️
But you also know that since he came at Chelsea every fan has been making fun of his size. Simply because he doesn’t fit in TUCHEL system. He’s human. Just like you’d feel if you were teased or bullied. They also have pressure. One thing we have to know is, we don’t have to rely on articles we read. If someone doesn’t want him at Chelsea they’ll try make the situation seem as if he’s the one pushing it. Lukaku sauf if he doesn’t come out and say something, don’t believe what reports say. Don’t believe rumors!
MaddyKotagiri
0
Watch the whole interview bro. He said one day he would like to return to inter. Just as Hazard said that Chelsea will always be in his heart and he would someday return if possible. Let’s not always use the words that players say and manipulate them. We’ve got put ourselves in their shoes.
Ok let’s assume you are right about the interview, forget it. Why he doesn’t want to stay at Chelsea now and fight for a place?? Why is he behind bosses and pushing for a transfer himself?? He doesn’t want to play for a club who spent 98m for his services 🤷🏻♂️
FootballBible
0
If Lukaku loves Chelsea so much why did he give interview stating he want to return to Inter that too at the beginning of the season itself?? If he loves the club so much why does he want to run away?? Why is he not staying and fighting for a place?
Watch the whole interview bro. He said one day he would like to return to inter. Just as Hazard said that Chelsea will always be in his heart and he would someday return if possible. Let’s not always use the words that players say and manipulate them. We’ve got put ourselves in their shoes.
Kasbcdiost
0
there was no time I like lukaku
ravluvmel4eva
0
Which fans?
Bwealth_002
1
but you guys said Manchester United killed his career 😜 so what's going on now career builders? ( Chelsea)
MaddyKotagiri
0
It’s crazy how fans don’t think that Lukaku is tired of hearing them troll him for no reason. We know he was playing good. We know him as a good striker. Not performing good at Chelsea doesn’t mean he’s trash. We all find it hard to fit in the new school. Or some of us are introverts. That doesn’t mean we’re trash at doing something. That means that it is a system we’re not used to. But regardless of that, we still want to strive and fight to fit in that system. Same applies to Lukaku. He doesn’t hate Chelsea. Instead he might hate himself for not managing to play for a club of his dreams since he was young. A lot of you laugh at him for being heavy or sweaty. But we all know that some of you are in wheel chairs. So we’ve got to stop putting pressure on these stars. Because they might have enough pressure to play on the level they’re on. Lukaku is a good player. A player that will always love Chelsea regardless of how it treats him. Because he left, and even came back. That already shows his professionalism for not considering the past. Respect Lukaku.
If Lukaku loves Chelsea so much why did he give interview stating he want to return to Inter that too at the beginning of the season itself?? If he loves the club so much why does he want to run away?? Why is he not staying and fighting for a place?
MaddyKotagiri
0
One thing for sure many Chelsea fans were not really happy when Lukaku was signed we didn’t want him to comeback, he was lazy, he was a flop at united. But Chelsea still bought him and they said they didn’t had many options!!
Miockmnt
1
lukaku is protesting Russia attacking Ukraine by playing only 10% of his ability
DrMongo
0
5m euros is a lot for someone who had such bad season..look at Neymar, Pogba, Morata, Dybala.., ..there are not many suitors able to pay them such higher wages to end up average...
messi
Jaibeaugustine
0
I thought he went to Chelsea to show them what United had missed😂😂😂 United were right to sell him after all. and to think he even performed better for United than with Chelsea lol. with all that hype when he came in
Zipidiyi
1
This why u should'nt hype players easily after they do well in one league,it may happen to halland or nunez or lewandoski
Suubdlnuz
0
5m euros is a lot for someone who had such bad season..look at Neymar, Pogba, Morata, Dybala.., ..there are not many suitors able to pay them such higher wages to end up average...
wukablmty
1
chelsea player not supporting him. even at inter almost all player, coach and tactic support him and his play still meh
danriwbik
1
Using the word "Worst" is not enough cuz it could get better anytime rather it should "Disgust" 🤣
Latcklrsuz
2
all problems come down to the coach Thomas Tuchel can't manage the striker so u expect to be sitting on the bench so I support to leave on loan let us see who ur Thomas got for wing back style of play this season.
FootballBible
4
It’s crazy how fans don’t think that Lukaku is tired of hearing them troll him for no reason. We know he was playing good. We know him as a good striker. Not performing good at Chelsea doesn’t mean he’s trash. We all find it hard to fit in the new school. Or some of us are introverts. That doesn’t mean we’re trash at doing something. That means that it is a system we’re not used to. But regardless of that, we still want to strive and fight to fit in that system. Same applies to Lukaku. He doesn’t hate Chelsea. Instead he might hate himself for not managing to play for a club of his dreams since he was young. A lot of you laugh at him for being heavy or sweaty. But we all know that some of you are in wheel chairs. So we’ve got to stop putting pressure on these stars. Because they might have enough pressure to play on the level they’re on. Lukaku is a good player. A player that will always love Chelsea regardless of how it treats him. Because he left, and even came back. That already shows his professionalism for not considering the past. Respect Lukaku.
muzzy05564
3
Mr sweat how far in Chelsea
Pimcdikop
1
curse for selling us hazard
omojevwe1
0
pathetic
FALANBUMA
1
Good morning, evening, afternoon or night to all who is reading this and I hope y’all have a productive day in gods will❤️🙏🏾
Why do you want the likes, they won't give u money, why not make some videos on youtube like me
FALANBUMA
1
Good morning, evening, afternoon or night to all who is reading this and I hope y’all have a productive day in gods will❤️🙏🏾
Why are you posting this over and over again? Don't u have a job? Stop wasting your life.
Jaymov
1
Good morning, evening, afternoon or night to all who is reading this and I hope y’all have a productive day in gods will❤️🙏🏾