Romelu Lukaku has opened up on questions he would ask himself while at Everton and shared an honest take on talk of leaving the club for Chelsea years ago.
The striker is now back at Stamford Bridge having completed a big-money transfer to the London side from Inter Milan earlier in the summer and scored within a quarter of an hour of his second Chelsea debut away to Arsenal this afternoon.
The Belgium international signed for Everton from Chelsea initially on loan in 2013, before making his transfer to Merseyside permanent for a then club-record fee the following year.
However, despite becoming the Blues' top scorer in the Premier League during his four seasons with the club, he has admitted there would be doubts in his mind over missed opportunities that would pass him by.
Lukaku told Sky Sports : "It was just questions, self doubt. I knew I had the abilities but, why not? It was always just not.
"When I think about my moments with Everton, missed penalties or whatever, or with United or here [Chelsea] - I would get an opportunity and it wouldn't go well.
"Then I was like, 'maybe is it because I put too much [pressure on myself]'. When I went to Italy I had the guidance of Antonio Conte to learn what it took to break that barrier.
"When we [Inter Milan] won last year you could see the emotions on my face, for me it was ten years of hard work with a lot of ups and downs. I think in the end, it was good, because now I know myself."
Lukaku left Everton to join Manchester United in 2017, but things could have been different at that time.
Chelsea were showing a strong interest in bringing their former player back to Stamford Bridge at that stage until the Red Devils beat them to the punch.
However, the striker has admitted he is quite happy that the move didn't happen when it was first mooted.
"The move could have happened a few years ago, when I was 23 or 24," he added.
"But, at that time, you have to be honest with yourself and looking back at that time I don't know if I would have the same impact like I have now.
"Now is the right time, I'm much more mature and aware of what's happening on the football pitch."
