Everton striker Romelu Lukaku says it was he who initiated his loan departure from Chelsea.
Lukaku has launched a defence of his manager Jose Mourinho and insists it was his decision to spend the season away from the Blues.
"I did not know if I would be playing for Chelsea so I asked the manager to let me leave. We spoke and I told him," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"It's unfair to criticise Mourinho for letting me go because it was my decision.
"He knows what he is doing. He has won so many titles and I have too much respect for him to wish anything but the best, but there comes a point where you must think about yourself to show everyone that you can shine and be one of the best strikers in the league.
"I could have stayed and fought, but it was not about the competition. When you are a 20-year-old you need minutes. I lost my place in the national team because I did not play for a year with Chelsea."
