'Solskjaer wanted to keep me': Romelu Lukaku says Manchester United manager tried to persuade him to stay before £73million Inter Milan move
* Romelu Lukaku says it was his decision to leave Man United for Inter Milan
* Lukaku insists he wanted a fresh start after spending eight years in England
* The striker says he has 'eternal respect' for United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Romelu Lukaku claims Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted him to stay at Old Trafford prior to his £73million move to Inter Milan.
Solskjaer has previously stated that it was 'time' for Lukaku to move on after the striker had fallen out of favour in his second season at the club.
Lukaku, however, has offered a different version of events but says his relationship with Solskjaer remains a good one.
'Solskjaer has my eternal respect. He understood me when I said in March that it was time for me to leave,' he told Het Belang van Limburg.
'I have been in the Premier League as an 18-year-old boy and now I am 26. Solskjaer wanted to keep me, but I was ready for something new.'
Since his move to the San Siro, Lukaku has scored nine goals in 12 league games but also faced adversity after being subjected to racist abuse from rival fans.
Romelu Lukaku says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted him to stay at Manchester United. Solskjaer previously claimed it was United's decision to allow him to leave Old Trafford
However, the 26-year-old insists he's happy in Italy and says he was prepared for the abuse.
'I knew it would happen,' he added. 'I was prepared because I had spoken to other footballers about it.
'But I'm having a good time in Italy. The people on the street are very good to me and it's on that, that I want to focus.'
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