Anderlecht academy chief Jean Kindermans has revealed Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku could've been lost to French football.

While with Anderlecht, Lukaku had offers to leave for France.

Kindermans told HLN: "It was Lukaku's father who inspired us to enter into partnerships with schools. From the age of 15, Romelu became famous and attracted a lot of interest from foreign clubs.

"His father told me: 'Lille, Lens, Auxerre and Saint-Etienne were all interested in my son and all these clubs were able to offer him a high school, accommodation and football training'.

"A few months later, we launched the Talents Mauves project. But before Romelu left for high school, he always spent an hour practicing finishing."