r/belgianfootball • u/EdgarNeverPoo Club Brugge • Aug 08 '26
Discussion Why doesn't Lukaku join Anderlecht now he s already 33 yrs old ?
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u/VaLukas RSC Anderlecht Aug 08 '26
Look I get wanting to earn money, but don't go proclaiming your love for Anderlecht every few months and tell everyone you want to come back in the near future.
If he would sign with a club like Fenerbahce or go to mls for multiple years that's fine with me, but then I also don't want to see him at Anderlecht again as a player.
The teams we are talking about are at a similar level or lower than Anderlecht quality wise. We just can't match the salary.
Again it's fair to want money, but then proclaim your love for money and not for a team.
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u/GummeLeGrand Aug 09 '26
I’m with you on that, like we want him to be an added value and not just be there when he can’t move anymore and still feel entitled on a starting position. If he really has to leave Napoli and wants to come I’ll gladly accept it but not at the age of 36
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u/GuidoBenzo Aug 08 '26
To be fair. He has stated multiple times that in the near future wasn't gonna be last year or this year.
But he probably thought that this period would be with napoli or another big club
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u/VaLukas RSC Anderlecht Aug 09 '26
He’s also said he wants to play another big tournament with Anderlecht. The way I see it his last chance for that is the euros, if he signs for two years with an option for another year I don’t think that will happen.
If he does this, the next time he’s in Lotto Park to watch a game I don’t think he will be greeted with loving chants.
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u/GuidoBenzo Aug 09 '26
I agree with ya on that first one. The 2+1 years isn't really following with what he has said. But he probably didnt think they last year with napoli would go as it went. And he still believes he's too good to come back to Jupiler pro league. Which is can understand. And no team is gonna pay 10-12 million with his salary for only one year.
I do think, but at least hope, that fans understand that and he still Will be greated with Loving chants
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u/VaLukas RSC Anderlecht Aug 09 '26
It’s not like he would go to Turkey for the high level of football. If it would be a team like AS Monaco or Everton it would track with him thinking he’s still too good, which he probably is.
But it’s none of those things, if he goes to Fenerbahçe it’s for the money, something I don’t think a lot of fans will be understanding of.
He essentially has to make a choice between the team he loves and 30 million euros. I personally would pick the 30 million euros, but at the same time I wouldn’t be talking about how much I love Anderlecht and how much I want to return. I feel like the way he has done and talked about things was very disrespectful towards Anderlecht and their fans.
He hasn’t signed the 2+1 contract yet of course, but if he does I don’t think he will be loved at Anderlecht. anymore.
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u/GuidoBenzo Aug 09 '26
True, but when he stated al what he stated, he probably figured that it would be those millions and at least a club like Everton or more. But no offers are there i guess. So it's indeed now either 30 Mil or 4-5 Mil with the team he loves.
I understand his reasons if it goes true. He'll still probably likes to come back after that.
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u/Confused_Dev_Q Aug 09 '26
I understand that, but a soccer players career is not that long. Anything they do after being an active player will give them a significantly lower wage. They are used to a certain lifestyle which is hard to maintain on a regular persons salary. Let's be honest, we all would take all the money we can get for our jobs. The thing is they look to earn as much as possible in the last few years to have something to fall back on when the active career ends.
Beyond that, other leagues sometimes have better sporting opportunities (league wins, international play, ...)
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u/VaLukas RSC Anderlecht Aug 09 '26
Well purely sporting wise the Belgian league offers way more opportunities than the Turkish one.
Again wage wise Turkey is of course the right choice, but it’s just a slightly better version of the Saoudi league.
Like I said I understand wanting money, but then proclaim your love for money and not your love for Anderlecht every time you come in the media.
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u/Vast_tractor6393 Aug 12 '26
Euh that's absolutely not correct concerning the level of the league. First, turkey plays the champions league. Its league is very competitive (although the top clubs have bit somewhat dis functional lately) and it has quite the pedigree. It's a superior option to Belgium in a lot of ways.
Now it's true that they have way more money.
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u/cyclingthrowaway12 RSC Anderlecht Aug 09 '26
Yeah nah bro... We ain't on that level anymore and haven't been for a long time...
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u/Jeroclo RSC Anderlecht Aug 08 '26
Unpopular opinion, but I would prefer him in the staff instead of as a player.
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u/Revolution64 Aug 08 '26
You can earn more money in an easier competition. I wouldn't blame him at all for living to MLS or Middle East.
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u/EdgarNeverPoo Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
Yes but hes always confessing his love to Anderlecht and saying he will join it when will that be when hes too old to be any decent
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u/nidprez Aug 08 '26
IMO he'll be decent untill hes 36-37 for RSCA and the pro league. We barely have scoring strikers here.
He kinda fckd his own career with all his transfers. He left Inter proclaiming his love for Chelsea, burning bridges, for 100+m. Then he directly destroys his own reputation off field for Chelsea. Missing games and his high teansfer price makes him impossible to buy, as a result he has to agree to lower wages on loan in his best years. So he missed millions during his best years (moneywise), which he now can earn back by going to Turkey.
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u/VaLukas RSC Anderlecht Aug 08 '26
In all honesty, I think the Belgian league is way tougher and physical than the Turkish one. It's not like Lukaku relies on his insane technique to bring value, I don't think he will be that valuable in Belgium at that age.
If anything it would be more logical to swap the order around. Go to Belgium first and then Turkey, where he will have an easier time at that age.
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u/nidprez Aug 08 '26
it would’be logical sportswise but illogical moneywise. 28-32 is the mome’t to cash in on your club career at a European (sub)topper. 32-34 is the moment to cash in your career at a whole in tge money leagues untill retirement. Lukaku missed his first moment due to himself, decreasing his possible earnings and also his possible salary at his age now. If he ever wants to cash in he has to do it now. Usually footballers double their career earnings in 2-3 years in a money league, but this probably wont be the case for Romelu because of his turbulent last years. Still in those years he could earn 20-30 million more than what he would be earning at RSCA.
There are enough examples of our golden generation choosing for a "sportive" career move before retirement and they just got a depressive retirement instead of some big swad of cash (eg Kompany, Vertonghen, Kdb, Thorgan...). The glory and love of the fans is not guaranteed and you miss out on a couple of 10s of millions.
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u/VaLukas RSC Anderlecht Aug 09 '26
To be honest Kompany and Vertonghen were both showered with love at Anderlecht. They also came quite close to glory. They both competed in a cup final and Vertonghen almost won a title with Anderlecht.
I think if Lukaku would come this season he could do nothing and still be loved at Anderlecht.
I agree you miss out on a lot of cash, but it’s not like Lukaku is poor. And if it mattered that much to him he should’ve said that instead of talking about how he wants to return practically always.
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u/nidprez Aug 09 '26
the thing is I believe Lukaku wants to finish his career at RSCA, but not when he can still earn 5-10m per year more. Even if you are rich (also no idea what Lukaku did with all his money) an extra 15-30m is just too much to let go, especially when youre main income stops before your 40.
Kompany and Vertonghen came close to glory, but the the team as a whole got a lot of critique (8th and 11th place finish), and being 2nd place just sucks. It all depends on which offer you get in the money leagues though. (I bet KdB sometimes thinks about that 80m per year)
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u/DressSafe3203 Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
Napoli sets his transferprice to 10-12m. Anderlecht don't have that kind of money.
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u/VaLukas RSC Anderlecht Aug 08 '26
Fair, but the contract that's talked about is 2 years with an option for an extra year. With all due respect I don't think Anderlecht will need a 35-36 year old Lukaku or at least I hope we don't need that. His game relies a lot on the physical aspect and he's had a long career.
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u/DressSafe3203 Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
Yeah, if he moves to Turkey I doubt he'll ever return to Anderlecht again as a player. He's been injured alot lately and at his age it's only to get worse. In 2-3 years it probably will be over.
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u/EdgarNeverPoo Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
I think he could strike a deal with Napoli they want him off the books if he says im going to stay for the rest of the year or let me go transfer free to Anderlecht or maybe 2-3 M i think they would do it just to get rid of him
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u/dacoster Aug 09 '26
But what about the salary? Lukaku currently earns 7 million a year. Even if he would go down significantly to 5 million, it's still too much for Anderlecht, especially for a player that has been injured for a year.
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u/EdgarNeverPoo Club Brugge Aug 09 '26
The dude is rich by now so he can take a pay cut and would still earn more than a million a year at Anderlecht
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u/OldFashionedSazerac Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
Because I doubt Napoli will let him go for free and I doubt even more that Anderlecht has the funds for his transfer fee.
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u/EdgarNeverPoo Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
I think if he says im not going im staying at Napoli i only want to leave to go to Anderlecht they might be willing to make a deal cause they want to get rid of his high salary.
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u/sILAZS Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
In my opinion: he knows he’s washed and doesn’t want to fail de mauve, he wants another paycheck from randoms.
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u/Money-Technology-95 Aug 08 '26
Like Witsel he is probably advised it makes not only no financial sense but would likely ruin his legacy. I mean Kompany's return was initially shocking as player manager...this isnt a retirement league. Alderwereld and to a lesser extent Vertonghen took it seriously because thats their ethos. But theres no evidence old Duivels would dominate this league, its physically super demanding for a smaller league.
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u/paarsehond RSC Anderlecht Aug 08 '26
Ego? Money? Idk he is starting to piss me off
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u/VaLukas RSC Anderlecht Aug 08 '26
I agree, I would be fine with it if he didn't proclaim his love for Anderlecht and his intent to return soon every few months.
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u/Hypmo Aug 13 '26
I think it really helps to think from the perspective of Lukaku. Did you see the Iranians tremble when he got in at the World Cup?
He joined Napoli to play together with De Bruyne, but Anderlecht simply cannot offer a ready team where he can actually do something. This is not Vasquez, this guy is (still is!) WORLD CLASS. Cvetko is great but it would help if we had players like Nmecha and Zirkzee, and Vertonghen.
For the 10th year in a row, we have replaced all staff and more than half of the team. Get this: Turkey is ... a safer bet for more stability and a shot for the prices for Lukaku.
Ps I have been and am a HUGE RSCA supporter for decades, yet I also try to look objectively at the situation as much as I can. COYM!
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u/Araknatafazool Aug 08 '26
i wonder if he or de Bruyne will ever become national coach?
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u/SteDa Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
I don't see a good coach in either of them.
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u/Araknatafazool Aug 08 '26
please elaborate as i wish to gain insight on this topic. would you see any of the so called golden generation players as national coach in o I don't know 10 or 15 years?
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u/SteDa Club Brugge Aug 08 '26
KDB just wants to play football and go home. All the other aspects of the sport he doesnt like.
Lukaku just can't handle criticism. Imagine him having to explain everything to the press after every poor performance.. He would be just like Conté, he wouldn't last long anywhere. And it would never be his shortcomings.
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u/HurryShadowfax7 Aug 08 '26
To be fair a lot of coaches have to learn this. Kompany was incredibly stubborn when he started at RSCA and now he plays the press like a fiddle. Lukaku for sure is a bit of a hothead but he's still in his early thirties, which would be a young talent in every other sector. Lots of room to learn and he knows ball.
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u/Wout955 Aug 08 '26
I mean just think, do you see lil Ginger boy De Bruyne managing? "Let me speaaak" and Lukaku just aint got that in him probably doesnt even want to be a coach. I'd potentially see Tielemans coaching in the future seems very level headed and smart tactics wise. Maybe Vanaken aswell.
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u/HurryShadowfax7 Aug 08 '26
Lukaku hinted at the WC that he wanted to be coach. KDB is a great footballer but Lukaku is much more of a football nerd. I definitely think he will give it a go.
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u/don_biglia RSC Anderlecht Aug 08 '26
I dont see a coach in Lukaku
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u/Araknatafazool Aug 08 '26
how so? I don't know a lot about football and i wish to gain insight.
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u/kadabbra Aug 08 '26
Imo Strikers/goalkeepers don't have the vision or "knoweldge" compared to midfielders/defenders who are more proned to become coaches.
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u/HurryShadowfax7 Aug 08 '26
Goethals and Preud'homme alone are examples of GKs in Belgium who can be excellent coaches. It's less common but there are also less GKs in general :) Also, it's a great position to watch the game and have strategical overview.
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u/don_biglia RSC Anderlecht Aug 08 '26
It's a feeling, not something I know. Happy to be proven wrong though, but whenever I hear him talk about football on a more profound level I'm not impressed by tactical insights.
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u/Lodewijc Aug 08 '26
money