Ally McCoist: Romelu Lukaku 'shot himself in the foot' with interview

Romelu Lukaku 'shot himself in the foot' with an explosive interview saying he wanted to leave Chelsea, according to Ally McCoist. 

The Belgian striker joined the Premier League side from Inter Milan for a club-record £97.5million last summer but endured an underwhelming season, midway through angering the club by telling Sky Sports Italia he was keen on a return to Inter.

And after Lukaku sealed a loan move back to the Italian giants, pundit McCoist told Talksport he could see 'no way back' for the 29-year-old at Chelsea.

He said: 'I think he's got to go now, I was hoping there would be a way back for him.

'I think the interview is what's done him in, to be honest with you. I hoped he would've stayed and fought for his place and won the fans over and won Thomas Tuchel over with his performances and goals.

'But I'm not sure, well I'm convinced, that's not happening now which disappoints me a little bit. I think it's now in the best interests of both parties that he gets a deal done sooner rather than later and he's away.

'I don't like saying that. I just think he shot himself in the foot with the interview. At the time I know how bad it looked and how bad it was, but I kind of hoped that there would be a way back for him but I don't think there is now.' 

Lukaku scored 15 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions for the Blues last season - the top scorer at the club - but only eight in the Premier League and struggled for form later in the campaign.

Inter will pay Chelsea a £7million loan fee plus add-ons, with the 102-cap international reportedly taking a 35 per cent pay cut on his wages of £325,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge, taking the figure to around £210,000.