Manchester United player Romelu Lukaku spent his day off training at former club Anderlecht as he continues to wait on a possible transfer.
The MEN understands United players had Monday off ahead of their Sunday Premier League opener at home to Chelsea and Belgium international Lukaku travelled to his boyhood club to train with Anderlecht's youngsters.
Lukaku is believed to have trained separately from the United first-team squad at their Carrington training complex since he regained fitness from an apparent ankle injury last week. United are relaxed about Lukaku's decision to travel to Anderlecht, where Lukaku's friend Vincent Kompany is now their manager.
United forward Alexis Sanchez travelled to London on Sunday night, having missed both friendly wins against Kristiansund and Milan last week. United players are due back at Carrington on Tuesday.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rebuked Lukaku after he posted a video on Twitter of United training stats on Friday night. Lukaku revealed his support for the LA Lakers basketball team in an innocuous tweet by posting a picture of himself wearing a Shaquille O'Neal vest and the Lakers' verified account jokingly responded Lukaku to LA was a 'done deal'.
Inter Milan are expected to lodge a second bid for Lukaku after his potential switch to Juventus collapsed. United rejected a £54million offer from Inter last month.
A man training with Anderlecht while he’s waiting for a move. One of those unexpected twists and turns. #mufc @hlnsport pic.twitter.com/SP4KFGmYYO
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) August 5, 2019
It is still unlikely Inter's next bid would be anywhere near United's £80million valuation of Lukaku. Inter are believed to need to sell to generate more funds and have not sold unwanted striker Mauro Icardi. Midfielder Radja Nainggolan has only rejoined Cagliari on loan.
Icardi, 26, had reputedly been hopeful of Juventus coming in for him but the Serie A champions moved for Lukaku instead. It is unclear whether Juve will now make an approach for Icardi after Paulo Dybala priced himself out of a transfer to United.
New Inter coach Antonio Conte omitted Icardi from their pre-season tour squad but the Argentinian has not been training and his agent wife, Wanda Nara, says Icardi is prepared to run down his contract without playing. Icardi is tied to Inter until 2021 and they have not received any offers for the goalscorer.
Lukaku replied: "I’m available to catch these passes from @KingJames (LeBron James) on the fast break since they think i’m slow out here." The Belgian then doubled down by posting a 14-second video that detailed United players' maximum speed during one of their first training sessions in Perth on July 10.
Solskjaer said he had no additional updates to offer on Lukaku's future but revealed he had contacted Lukaku about the video, which he deleted.
"I've spoken to Rom, yeah, to put it that way," Solskjaer said. "And that's case closed."
