Agent reveals Real Madrid weighed Lukaku loan before Mbappé push

Fede Pastorello has revealed that Real Madrid considered a short-term move for Romelu Lukaku, only to shelve the idea as the club focused resources on securing Kylian Mbappé the following year. According to the agent, Carlo Ancelotti admired Lukaku’s profile as a powerful reference No.9, but the hierarchy preferred to wait. The disclosure sheds light on Madrid’s striker planning during the 2023–24 cycle, when stop-gap options were explored before a long-term superstar arrived. Today, Lukaku is leading the line in Serie A with Napoli, while Madrid’s attack revolves around Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and the emerging Endrick, sparking debate over what might have been.

In a recent media appearance, agent Fede Pastorello stated that Real Madrid explored a temporary deal for Romelu Lukaku while mapping an all-in move for Kylian Mbappé the following year. The timeline points back to the 2023–24 season, when Madrid evaluated short-term center-forward options before ultimately relying on internal solutions and moving decisively for Mbappé the next summer. Since then, Mbappé has joined Real Madrid, while Lukaku has continued in Serie A and now plays for Napoli under Antonio Conte. The remarks have revived discussion about Madrid’s striker roadmap and how Lukaku might have fit under Carlo Ancelotti.

🗣️ Fede Pastorello, Romelu Lukaku’s agent: “There was a chance for Lukaku to join Real Madrid. They were thinking of a forward, but they were already focused on Mbappé for the next year, so they didn’t want to spend on a loan deal. Ancelotti would’ve liked him, but

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Pastorello’s revelation is significant because it confirms what many suspected about Real Madrid’s long-range planning: a disciplined, phased approach that resists short-term spending if it risks compromising the club’s top strategic target. From a footballing perspective, Lukaku would have offered Ancelotti a classic penalty-box focal point—elite hold-up play, channel running to pin center-backs, and a ruthless near-post threat. In transitional sequences, his ability to occupy defenders would have created more room for Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo to attack space, and later for Mbappé to receive higher, wider, and attack diagonal lanes.

However, Madrid’s decision-making underscored tactical continuity and financial prudence. A loan for Lukaku would have altered pressing triggers (he thrives in mid-blocks and quick counters) and potentially nudged Ancelotti toward more direct patterns, especially against deep blocks. By holding fire, Madrid maintained stylistic elasticity while preserving resources to integrate a generational star in Mbappé without salary-cap friction or squad churn.

For Lukaku’s camp, the interest validates his market value as a high-impact finisher at elite level. At the same time, his move to Napoli under Antonio Conte (a coach who maximizes his strengths) may well provide the most stable platform for consistent output. On balance, Madrid’s clarity of vision—prioritize the apex talent, avoid short-term distortions—has reinforced the club’s transfer credibility while keeping optionality should future squad needs demand a different striker profile.

Reaction

Fan discussion has split into familiar camps. A sizable group applauds Madrid’s restraint, arguing that “Mbappé was always the endgame,” and that adding a short-term No.9 could have complicated the wage bill and succession planning. Others lean into humor, quipping that the Madrid board saw the name “Lukaku” and instantly moved on, or that “we got Joselu instead and the rest is history,” a nod to the memorable moments that validated the temporary center-forward route in 2023–24.

There is, however, a robust defense of Lukaku’s quality. Many point out that “people underrate him—put Lukaku in a service-heavy team and he scores,” highlighting his penalty-box movement and strike rate with strong wing creators. Some insist he would have “scored plenty” under Ancelotti, imagining the synergy with Vinícius and Rodrygo’s cut-backs and Mbappé’s gravity. The more skeptical voices counter that Madrid’s current attack thrives on fluid interchanges and aggressive pressing, and question whether a classic target-man would have compressed the attack’s spacing against elite opponents. Overall, the mood is playful but thoughtful: respect for Madrid’s long game, coupled with genuine curiosity about how Lukaku’s skill set might have translated at the Bernabéu.

Social reactions

Lukaku is a good player, anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know ball Glad we have Mbappe though

AddgRMA 🐢🔜🤍 (@AddgRma)

He would just be a ball boy at madrid

YummyErnesto💦 (@Tornye99)

Florentino Pérez : Lukaku is

ﾒ Shinzo ﾒ (@shinzoharu)

Prediction

Short term, Real Madrid are unlikely to revisit the Lukaku profile while Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Endrick cover the front line’s speed, dribbling, and finishing. The main variable is squad health; a spate of injuries or a form dip could push the club to consider a physically dominant No.9 for specific phases. If that scenario emerges, Madrid would probably target a younger striker with elite aerial output and high pressing capacity rather than a stop-gap loan.

For Lukaku, a stable run under Antonio Conte at Napoli projects strongly. Conte’s vertically efficient structure, wingback supply, and emphasis on quick central combinations suit Lukaku’s first-touch layoffs and penalty-box instincts. Expect a high double-digit goal output if fitness holds. Any future Madrid talk would demand an unusual alignment—Napoli’s willingness to negotiate, Madrid’s tactical need for a fixed reference, and clear squad minutes. More plausibly, Madrid focus on internal development (Endrick’s acceleration into a multi-phase finisher) and opportunistic market moves for a mobile aerial threat. The Lukaku-to-Madrid window looks more like a revealing “what if” than an active lane—unless circumstances shift dramatically.

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Conclusion

Pastorello’s comments illuminate a coherent transfer strategy rather than a missed opportunity. Real Madrid identified the ultimate cornerstone in Mbappé and refused to complicate the path with a costly interim solution, even one as proven as Lukaku. The choice preserved tactical flexibility, kept the wage bill aligned with long-term priorities, and allowed Ancelotti to maintain a fluid, interchangeable front line that could later absorb Mbappé seamlessly.

That does not diminish Lukaku’s pedigree. Under the right manager and structure, he remains a high-yield striker whose movement, strength, and penalty-box craft tilt matches. In Ancelotti’s Madrid, he would have supplied immediate goals and aerial presence, particularly versus deep blocks. But strategy won out: Madrid have their superstar and a balanced ecosystem around him, while Lukaku has landed in a system tailored to his strengths. In the end, both paths make sense—and the revelation simply confirms how close an intriguing alternative once came to reality.