Mkhitaryan anger at Lukaku over Inter betrayal in 2023

“There were a few question marks, as pre-season training started and I saw many players who were coming to the end of their contracts, and others who did not want to remain,” wrote Mkhitaryan.

“We didn’t know what the future would hold. At the start of the 2023-24 season, we were like an enormous transfer market puzzle. There were three goalkeepers all on their way out, and another three on their way in.

“We signed Bisseck, Pavard, Carlos Augusto, Cuadrado, Frattesi, Arnautovic, Thuram, and brought back Sanchez. Out went D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Brozovic, Gagliardini, Gosens, Dzeko and Lukaku.”

It was the Belgium international who shook things up the most, as he had bitterly regretted his decision to push for a €113m move to Chelsea in 2021 and returned a year later on loan.

The clubs had worked out an agreement to extend the loan plus an option to buy, when suddenly Lukaku changed his mind, seemed close to Juventus instead, then eventually joined Roma on loan at the end of August.

“Dzeko had been sold in order to make room for Lukaku, who then decided he did not want to wear our jersey anymore (and when it comes to his decision, it is better if I say nothing, so I prefer not to add a single extra word),” wrote Mkhitaryan.

They had already been teammates at Manchester United and reunited twice at Inter.

“From the locker room, we watched this frenetic coming and going of teammates. There was concern, we asked ourselves how wise it was to dismantle and rebuild a squad that was so well-drilled, that achieved excellent results, and came close to winning the Champions League.

“We didn’t understand, but at the same time, we didn’t feel in a position to ask either. We tended to trust Inzaghi and the club, believe them when they said this would be a strong Inter again. They were totally right.”