Also, Solskjaer didn't cast him out or isolate him in the dressing room (a la Conte with Costa). He just told him Rashford was first choice, doesn't mean he discarded Lukaku. It just meant that Lukaku was rotational, and he feels he should be starting every match at this point in his career (which, props to him, is fair). Also, Lukaku under Mourinho bulked up a lot to try and suit his version of a strong target man. The Lukaku before that, using his physique to bully defenders, dropping deep and running at players (while being deceptively quick) does suit Solskjaer's play to an extent, and if he stays, that's what he will be looking to do.
Letting Lukaku out is not directly related to LT progression, it's more of Rashford suiting Ole's style more. Lukaku is still an excellent striker to have, he just won't be happy if he is not starting almost every match.
No it's not fair in my opinion that's my point, he's at a top level club like United and he wasn't playing well under Mourinho's last few months. Solskjaer comes in and prefers Rashford who starts playing well..... tells Lukaku he isn't first-choice...... that shouldn't suddenly be an incentive to leave. It's a weak mentality and I never called him a stirrer btw. Although I do think that Pogba/Lukaku in the dressing room still is just going to cause problems next season... that's my opinion. When things go south that dressing room will defo become toxic, not necessarily because of Lukaku but Pogba as well. It's a bad recipe to have players that want to go still here... if they are.
We're going to have to agree to disagree here guys, for me Lukaku doesn't deserve to be undisputed starter and he can't demand it either. He had that privilege in season one under Mourinho and props to him.... he scored the goals.
Any player when they are not playing well, deserves to be dropped and fight for their position... it's a basic principle of football to me. I don't get the modern footballer mentality of wanting to leave just because you're not suddenly number one.
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