In a commanding display, AS Roma decisively defeated Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton & Hove Albion with a spectacular 4-0 victory in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 matchup in Rome. Romelu Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, shone brightly by doubling Roma’s lead just before the break, capitalizing on a blunder by Lewis Dunk. Following this, Roma sealed their dominance with two additional goals in the latter half.
Lukaku’s performance, marking goals in consecutive matches across all competitions after a dry spell of five league games, mirrors Roma’s thriving form. The club has ascended to the fifth position in Serie A, narrowing the gap to just four points behind fourth-placed Bologna. Securing a fourth-place finish or clinching the Europa League title could significantly bolster Roma’s chances of retaining Lukaku for the forthcoming season.
Romelu Lukaku eager to end Chelsea contract situation this summer
Despite speculation about his future, Lukaku remains circumspect, placing emphasis on his dedication to Roma and expressing gratitude for the team’s support amidst personal challenges.
“As soon as I arrived [in Rome], I saw how much the fans love this team. […] I try to give my best for Roma, many people don’t know what my situation was, so I thank Roma.”
“I don’t want to cause controversy in England [and not answer if I want to remain], I have to be intelligent about this,” the striker said after the game.
Amidst this, it’s reported that Chelsea has agreed to a £37 million buyout clause with Romelu Lukaku, who hopes to maintain his impressive goal-scoring streak, having netted 18 goals in various competitions this season.
