Afroballers

Romelu Lukaku named Europa League Player of the Season

Isaac Darko

Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has been adjudged the 2019/20 Europa League Player of the Season.

The Belgian striker scored seven goals in just five matches for Inter, helping them to the final where they were beaten by Sevilla in Cologne.

Despite their last-gasp defeat, Lukaku was voted as the best player in the competition, in news that won’t be gratefully received by those of a Manchester United persuasion.

The 27-year-old finished ahead of Bruno Fernandes and Éver Banega to win the fourth edition of the award, which was announced during the UEFA Europa League group stage draw in Nyon.

Speaking after receiving his award, Lukaku said: ‘I want to thank my mum, my brother, my agents, RocNation for supporting me.

‘I want to thank Antonio Conte and his staff for their trust and for helping me. Most importantly I want to thank my team-mates. They’ve been like brothers to me from day one.

‘Every day I come into training with a smile on my face. I hope this year we’re going to do much better than last year and have lots of success.’

Lukaku’s Belgian international team-mate Eden Hazard collected the gong last season.

Lukaku registered in all six of Inter’s games after entering the competition in the knockout stage – striking seven goals in total – and also laid on two assists. He opened the scoring from the penalty spot in August’s final though he was unfortunate to later deflect in a shot that gave Sevilla the title