Romelu Lukaku has jumped to the defence of Jose Mourinho and claimed he approached the manager in August to force through a season-long loan.
The 20-year-old forward completed a deadline day switch to Everton after it became apparent his opportunities at Stamford Bridge would remain limited.
But amid something of a Chelsea striker crisis – which has left Fernando Torres sidelined with a knee injury and Samuel Eto’o still searching for his first goal for the club – fans have questioned the decision to allow Lukaku to leave.
“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.”
Reports suggested Lukaku turned down a loan move to West Ham earlier in the summer after Mourinho had promised his striker first-team action this season.
But after playing little more than 40 minutes of Premier League football in Chelsea’s first three games, the Belgian opted for a move away from Stamford Bridge in a bid to land a starting role elsewhere.
“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.
“I want that position back. I want to be in a top team and play. You only get better if you play so the best thing was to leave.
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“He'd called me into his office 10 days before the end of the window. I did not want to tell him what I wanted to do at that point, but he was very open and direct.
“I always wanted to work under him and even the time in pre-season he taught me lots I'm grateful for but I had to make a choice.”
