Paul Parker sends message to Man United signing about Jose Mourinho
Manchester United legend Paul Parker warns Romelu Lukaku that he will have to change his playing style under Jose Mourinho
Paul Parker has warned Manchester United signing Romelu Lukaku that he will have to change his playing style to be a success under Jose Mourinho.
The Red Devils signed the Belgium international in a £75m deal from Everton in the summer transfer window ahead of interest from Premier League champions Chelsea.
Manchester United will be relying on Lukaku to fill the goal void after club captain Wayne Rooney and Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic left Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old striker scored 25 times in 36 games in the Premier League last season to finish behind Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane in the goal-scoring charts.
Questions have been asked of Lukaku’s big-game temperament despite his prolific record during a four-season stay at Goodison Park.
Mourinho opted to sell Lukaku to Everton in a £27m deal in the 2014 summer transfer window during his second spell in charge of the west London outfit.
Former Manchester United defender Parker told Lukaku that he will have to work harder off the ball to thrive in the Red Devils team under Mourinho.
“You look at Drogba at Chelsea and Milito at Inter Milan and Higuain at Real Madrid,” said Parker, speaking exclusively to 888sport. “Mourinho likes that kind of player.
“Lukaku is the one though who will give him more of a challenge because he has to change his game.
“A lot of his game at Everton was good but if he wants to play under Mourinho he has to accept that just because he worked hard in one game he can’t have a rest in the next.
“He’s going to have to work even harder off the ball than on the ball. He can’t play for himself and look to score goals: he has to be a team player and bring people into the game; to learn how to play with his back to goal instead of turning every time. If he does that right only then will he be a Mourinho player.
“If he doesn’t then in a short period of time he’ll be history.”
Manchester United will start their Premier League campaign with a home clash against West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
