COMMENT: Romelu Lukaku and AS Roma. In the end, the only choice was the most obvious. Indeed, given the club's culture and support, it could even turn out to be the best...
One anti-hero is reunited with another. And the fans could not be happier. For everything he's done these past three months. For everything that's been thrown at him. Lukaku - and to be fair, his management team - could not have chosen a better club to rebuild his career.
As we say, more than anyother club, the Giallorossi love their anti-hero. They loveJose Mourinho. No matter what UEFA throw at him. No matter what FIGC claims he does. No matter the barbs fired from the local press. Mourinho can always count on the Roma support. He may split opinion elsewhere. Even at Chelsea. But with Roma. For these fans. He can do no wrong.
And this is exactly what Lukaku can expect. The support, as they've done for Mourinho, will erect a Roman shield around their new centre-forward. The harsher the criticism, the stronger this protective wall will become. And they'll come at him from all angles. From Turin. From Milan. After his antics at the end of last season, so many will be waiting for Lukaku to fall.
But with this support, he knows (as Jose will have told him) anything is possible. As we say, Lukaku and those advising him could not have chosen better. Indeed, they couldn't have acted better. We're hearing money in the range of €5-7m. But whatever the final figure, Lukaku has taken a massive pay-cut on his Chelsea salary to make this move happen. It's a sacrifice that won't be lost on the Roma support.
So congratulations to Rom. And to Jose. Without the presence of Mourinho, this Roma deal was never getting off the ground. An idea. A phone call. And wheels were soon in motion. But the board still needed to be convinced. Dan Friedkin, the club's billionaire owner, was unsure. Mourinho raised the idea with Friedkin in Paris as he worked on finding a defensive replacement for Roger Ibanez - all on his manager's urgings. The initial response was predictable, but understandable. The focus was on other positions, particularly with Sardar Azmoun about to arrive from Bayer Leverkusen.
But Mourinho was determined. He could see the opportunity. And with sporting director Tiago Pinto also backing the idea, the three of them were in agreement by the end of the day. Again, credit Roma. After the marathon negotiations between Chelsea and Inter Milan. Then the on-off, will-he won't-he, fiasco with Juventus. Roma's management team were united. Decisive. And Friedkin had an agreement with fellow American Todd Boehly over a loan fee before the end of the weekend.
It was all wrapped up in a matter of hours. Barely days. And Lukaku, by accepting this massive pay-cut, played his role to a tee. It's a moment. Another special moment. For this Roma era. The Friedkins, with Mourinho out in front, have delivered again.
Rosella Sensi, the former Roma president, perfectly summed up the emotion of the moment as we saw Lukaku welcomed at Ciampino airport yesterday. They're a massive club, Roma. An Italian icon. But they're not a winning club. At least they haven't been this past decade.
But with the Friedkins, with Mourinho, a shift has occurred. There's a magic about the place. As Sensi observed: "The many fans at Ciampino have a unique enthusiasm. The emotion of those who saw it from home. Children, but also of those a little older like me. Dreaming of something that seems impossible and then materialises like this, suddenly. This is the best gift a president can give to his fans.
"Dan Friedkin succeeded again after Mourinho and Dybala. Lukaku's blow certainly raises morale, after a complicated start to the championship and now allows us to hope for important goals.
"Roma welcomes its champions with affection without equal! On Friday at the Olimpico he will understand what it means to be a Romanisti."
As we say, Roma fans, well, they're a different breed. Even Claudio Ranieri, fresh from overseeing his Cagliari team's defeat at Inter, couldn't help but talk indepth about his beloved Roma's signing coup.
"I'm curious to know how many thousands of people will be at the airport tomorrow," said Ranieri on Monday evening. "It is certainly an important coup after those of (Jose) Mourinho and (Paulo) Dybala.
"Roma joins the list teams that can do something important. In (Antonio) Conte's Inter he (Lukaku) did a lot and did well.
"He has an important and imposing structure. He must be trained well and must play continuously. They will have to wait for him. I don't know how much he trained, he has to find the best conditions and then he will certainly be an important player for Roma. He will know the Roma environment and will be fully satisfied."
Ranieri knows. As does Sensi. And Jose. For Lukaku. For this stage in his career. The Romanisti are just what the big Belgian needs. He could not have made a better choice.
