Romelu Lukaku to announce shock international retirement after Euro 2020 | Sportsmonks
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Romelu Lukaku to announce shock international retirement after Euro 2020

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku recently made quite a stunning revelation, stating that he will in all likelihood retire from international football after the 2020 Euros. 'After the Euros, I think I'll stop. Every big tournament for us as a country has to be getting into the semi-finals, and then you go from there,” Lukaku explained to Business Insider. The striker’s statement means he would miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Lukaku is Belgium’s leading goal-scorer, having netted 40 times in 75 international appearances. Still only 25, the Manchester United striker feels he has not even entered his prime yet, making his decision all the more surprising.

 

Lukaku is a part of Belgium’s golden generation meaning he still has a great shot at winning the World Cup when it rolls around in 2022, having failed to do so in Russia earlier this year. The Red Devils made it to the semi-finals but were beaten by eventual winners France, who sneaked through courtesy a 1-0 victory. However, Lukaku feels the next generation of Belgium superstars are on the verge of breaking into the first team and they deserve a shot at glory.

“I'm 25, I'm like, I'm not even in my prime yet. So I still see them [next gen] as competition right now because they try to take my spot and I don't want to give it up to them. So like, another two years and they can have it,' he announced while referring to Belgium’s next crop of players.

 

Lukaku’s statements come on the heels of a number of other stars who called time on their international careers. Victor Moses, Mario Mandzukic and Danijel Subasic have all decided to hang up their boots and focus on their club careers and it clearly seems like Lukaku is planning on following in their footsteps.

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