Lukaku: 'CR7 told me...'

By Football Italia staff

Inter striker Romelu Lukaku says Cristiano Ronaldo warned him about how tough Serie A is. “He told me this is the hardest defensive League in the world.”

The Belgian gave an interview to the New York Times on Monday, in which he gave his opinion on playing in Serie A compared to the Premier League.

Lukaku scored 14 goals in 22 games for Inter in the first half of the season, 12 of which came in Serie A.

However, he told the newspaper: “He [Ronaldo] told me this is the hardest defensive League in the world.

“He said he has scored goals everywhere, but this was the toughest place to do it, and if Cristiano Ronaldo think it’s difficult, then it must be really difficult.”

That echoes the claims of former Serie A hitmen Carlos Tevez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who have relayed similar sentiments in recent years.

Ronaldo’s scoring rate has also dropped in Italy, with last season his lowest in terms of goals (28) since the 2008-09 campaign.

“It’s harder than England. The football is more intense there, but here everything is pattern of play.”

Off the field, the 26-year-old has an extraordinary ability to assimilate to a language quickly, becoming a proficient Italian speaker in only a matter of weeks.

“Nobody speaks to me in English anymore.”

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