It’s no secret that the new UEFA Nations League is not something players like. They see it as just another competition without meaning because of which they need to play more games. Some of them say so publicly (like Kevin De Bruyne), while others don’t want to ‘steer the water’ but are trying to avoid those games. Many players have stayed away from this October international break, either due to injuries, or to ‘injuries’. The rare ones, like Romelu Lukaku, just asked the coach not to call them up this time.Conte will like this – Lukaku chooses Napoli over the national teamFormer Inter, Roma and now Napoli striker talked for the podcast‘ Friends of Sports’ in Belgium and explained all about the national team and also about the famous game with Croatia in the last World Cup. He also revealed why he had missed this round of Nations League games.“I hope I can rediscover my passion for the Red Devils. The next step is the World Cup in two years, which feels so far away now. I really want to return to the national team with a good feeling and take on a leadership role, but you can’t expect me to be happy if we don’t win. It’s the only thing that this young group of players lack. They’ve come a long way already but can still do much more regarding a winning mentality. This is what I can teach them” he said.Football forensics and a man who got the short end of the stickThe Belgian striker also revealed that he was experiencing severe depression after the group elimination in the World Cup 2022, when he missed several goal opportunities, especially against Croatia. He was an Inter player at the time and joined the Belgian team despite being not fully fit due to a tricky muscle injury.“It was the first time in 29 years that football touched me. I never thought about depression, but I cried every day for weeks, even on holiday. Henry called me three times a day. My mother and kids were in Milan, but I had no energy. I needed to be alone for a while” he confessed.Tupac would have turned 53 today if Lukaku was the shooterHe wanted to quit the national team when a new coach Domenico Tedesco arrived, but the Italian/German coach persuaded him to stay.“I wanted to stop when he arrived, but he said he needed me, so I went home. I spoke to my family and decided to stay, but I still had doubts after the games against Sweden and Germany at Euro 2024” he admitted.##NAJAVA_MECA_8415004##During the interview, he also explained his main problem while playing in England for Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton, where he was often the subject of media critique.“In England, they wanted to put me in a box. They see someone built like me and think he’s the new Drogba, and because Didier did what he did, they think I have to do the same. I’m not like that. Didier was more back to goal, he could hold up the ball no matter where you play it in from. That wasn’t my style, bro. Just let me make my run in behind; play me in” he explained.
