Huge Blow: Why Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out of Roma's Europa League game vs Brighton

AS Roma manager Daniele De Rossi says he left on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku back in Italy because he has a 'chronic' hip problem. The 30-year-old is Roma's top scorer this season and easily Chelsea's best performer out on loan. 

He has 10 goals in the league, seven in Europe and one in the Italian Cup. Lukaku scored at The Stadio Olimpico to help Roma to a 4-0 win against Brighton in the first leg, but will sit this one out because of what De Rossi says is a cyclical issue. 

He told reporters ahead of the game tonight: "Lukaku has a hip problem that returns cyclically every few months. He's out for two or three days for treatment and then comes back, let's see how it evolves. 

"If it's a problem that can heal in a few days? I don't know. They tell me yes, but I can't say too much because I'm not an expert, since it's the only thing I haven't broken in my career."

Lukaku's future at Chelsea

Chelsea and Lukaku are expected to go their separate ways in the summer despite what was a promising union when he signed for £97.5m in 2021, but his return proved unsuccessful and he has not played for the Blues since May 2022.

The striker was recently asked about his long-term future and plans for the summer and he said: "I don’t want to cause controversy in England, I have to be intelligent about this!" 

Inter and Juventus were priced out of signing Lukaku last summer, but with his contract up in 2026, Chelsea will surely lower their price tag which could allow Roma to snap him up.