Romelu Lukaku says his decision to leave Manchester United was a "win-win" situation for both player and club.

The striker left for Inter Milan last summer after two years at the club, United recouping almost all of the £75million they had paid for him in 2017.

Lukaku had lost his starting spot under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and informed the manager in March of his wish to leave.

Antonio Conte, who had tried and failed to sign him while in charge of Chelsea, brought him to Italy where he has to date scored 18 goals to help the club launch a challenge for the Serie A title.

"I made my decision around March, and I went to the manager's office and told him it was time for me to find something else," Lukaku told Sky Sports News.

"I wasn't performing and I wasn't playing. I think it was better for both sides to go separate ways. I think I made the right decision.

"Manchester United has made space for the younger players to come through so I think it was a win-win situation for both of us.

"I think I had to rediscover myself. Last year was difficult for me on the professional side, because stuff was not going how I wanted and I was not performing as well.

"So I had to find it within myself what was lacking and came to the conclusion that it was time for me to change environment."

Former Chelsea manager Conte has certainly managed to bring the best out of Lukaku this season, in particular forging a lethal partnership with Argentinian forward Lautaro Martinez.

Lukaku admits the Italian knows how to extract the most from his whole squad but revealed he is not afraid to dish out some stern words.

"The manager, he tells it straight to your face if you're doing well or wrong," he said.

"I remember one of my first Champions League games against Slavia Prague when I played really bad - like I was trash that day - and I really got it from him in front of the whole team.

"It had never really happened to me [in my career]. It had never happened. He just gave me that - he stepped on my confidence but it woke me up at the same time. He does it to everybody, it doesn't matter who you are. Everybody is equal.

"You work hard, you train hard and you play. If you don't do what he says, you don't play. You know where you stand - and that's what I respect about him."

Additional reporting by Press Association.