2 years ago
Romelu Lukaku's loan move to Inter Milan has not only seen him end his Chelsea nightmare but also heralds the 29-year-old Belgian striker returning to one of his former clubs.
It comes just one year after Chelsea signed him for £97.5m, marking a return to Stamford Bridge for Lukaku after an initial spell between 2011 and 2014.
However, a frustrating year for the Belgian at Thomas Tuchel's Blues has left him seeking his return to Inter, who he initially played for with much greater success between 2019 and 2021.
As Lukaku himself comes off his own poor return to a former club, here are some examples of players unsuccessfully heading back to their former grounds - and those who matched their former glories.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Ronaldo's second stint at Manchester United, confirmed last summer, came 12 years after he first left the Red Devils in an £80m switch.
However, the Portuguese forward's return on a two-year deal has not been straightforward, and the club's poor form, finishing sixth last season, means the team needs a major rebuild.
He still managed to score 18 goals in 30 appearances during the 2021-22 season, but Ronaldo's high standards and previous achievements with Real Madrid and Juventus mean it has been a below-par experience.
WAYNE ROONEY
Rooney became an Everton legend when he scored his screamer against Arsenal in 2002 five days before his 17th birthday, marking him as a name Clive Tyldesley wouldn't let us forget.
The England striker left in 2004 for thirteen successful years at Manchester United, before honouring wide speculation and returning to his boyhood club on a two-year deal.
He was top scorer at Goodison Park in the 2017-18 season, scoring 10 goals across 31 games for the Toffees, before choosing to leave the club to play in the MLS with DC United.
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