Romelu Lukaku breaks down in tears as Inter star opens up on late grandfather ahead of Champions League final
ROMELU LUKAKU broke down in tears ahead of the Champions League final.
That’s after opening up on his late grandfather, who inspired his journey to club football’s biggest game.
Lukaku, 30, is hoping to lead the line for Inter Milan when they face Manchester City on Saturday.
The Nerazzurri haven’t won Europe’s greatest prize since doing the Treble under Jose Mourinho in 2010.
And should they succeed, they would also end City’s hopes of winning all three major trophies this season.
Lukaku returned to Inter on loan from Chelsea last summer.
His future looks unclear following the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino.
But Lukaku will take it all in his stride after making a promise to his late grandad while still a child.
A 12-year-old Lukaku vowed he would “look after his mum” by becoming a top footballer – just five days before his grandfather passed away.
And reflecting on that promise, he broke down in tears while talking to CNN.
Lukaku opened up: “My grandfather for me was my number one, he was my biggest fan, so every time I play it is for him.
“It is for him, all the time, all the goals that I have scored – everything.
“I promised him that I would look after my mum, when I was 12, I did that.
“So every time when I look at my mum and I see her in the stands, I look at him, [point upwards] after every goal and I say, I did it.
“It doesn’t matter – wins or losses, I take it in my stride.
“These are real family issues. So for me, he meant the world to me.”
It was like somebody snapped their fingers and woke me up. I knew exactly what I had to do, and what I was going to do
Romelu Lukaku
Reflecting on his tough childhood, Lukaku told the Players Tribune in 2018: “I knew we were struggling. But when she was mixing in water with the milk, I realised it was over, you know what I mean? This was our life.
“I didn’t say a word. I didn’t want her to stress. I just ate my lunch. But I swear to God, I made a promise to myself that day.
“It was like somebody snapped their fingers and woke me up. I knew exactly what I had to do, and what I was going to do.
“I couldn’t see my mother living like that. I couldn’t have that.
“I remember sitting in the dark with my brother and mum, saying our prayers, and thinking, believing, knowing it’s going to happen.
“I kept my promise to myself for a while. But then some days I’d come home from school and find my mum crying.
“So finally I told her one day, ‘Mum, it’s going to change, you’ll see. I’m going to play for Anderlecht and it’s going to happen soon. We’ll be good, you won’t have to worry anymore’.”
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