Romelu Lukaku revealed he became a Chelsea fan after watching Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink score at Old Trafford.
Lukaku completed his protracted transfer to his boyhood idols, the teenage sensation having made no secret of his love for his new club.
And he has now described the exact moment which convinced him blue was the colour, fellow striker Hasselbaink's sensational volley in Chelsea's 3-3 draw against Manchester United almost 11 years ago.
It was enough for the seven-year-old Lukaku to pledge his support to the west London club and begin a journey which saw him become a member of their star-studded squad.
"I used to watch Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring goals and remember one against Manchester United, the volley at Old Trafford, and I decided I wanted to support this team," Lukaku told his new club's official website, www.chelseafc.com.
Lukaku's own footballing talent was such that he soon began to fantasise about emulating his idols.
"I dreamed to play here since I was 10 years old, thinking about shaking hands with all those players like John Terry and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba," he added.
"It's amazing to arrive here in a big club with big ambition. It was just what I was searching for."
Lukaku, who reportedly cost between £15million and £20million, caught the eye of a number of Europe's top clubs after his free-scoring efforts for Anderlecht, but he was determined to move to Stamford Bridge.
His power, pace and eye for goal have seen him likened to new team-mate Drogba.
Lukaku said: "We have similar playing styles, but I am also very fast. I want to learn from him how it is to play here at the Bridge and how to prepare for games.
"I can also learn off the other strikers and experienced players in the squad.
"I think if you are clever on and off the pitch you will get accepted and that's what I want."
Lukaku's record in Belgian football was impressive.
He made his first-team debut at Anderlecht when he was 16 and averaged almost a goal every two games in the Jupiler League.
His goals helped Anderlecht win the Belgian title in 2010 and he scored three times in the Champions League qualifying round last season, although the team went out before the group stage.
Lukaku, whose father Roger played for Zaire in the 1990s, has won 10 caps for Belgium, scoring two goals.
He will wear the number 18 shirt for his new team and could not wait to get started.
He said: "It was a good experience to play in Belgium but I wanted to take a big step to join a big club and I said from day one that I wanted to go to Chelsea.
"To be here now is so good, there are guys with a lot of experience at international level and they won everything, but I didn't, I don't have the same feeling as them.
"I just want to win something so I am very hungry to start with these guys."
Chelsea failed to lift any silverware last season but Lukaku was confident that would be rectified this term.
"I understand there is a lot of pressure on the team but with the players that we have, so much experience and so much talent, and with a great boss also, you can see that we can be confident we can make a successful season," he said.
On his targets for the campaign ahead, he added: "First of all, I just want to learn and train as much as possible to improve myself and show the coach that when he needs me I am ready.
"Then I hope to make minutes for the team and be helpful for the team, because the team is the most important thing. If you think positively about the team it will be positive for you."
more..
Lukaku completed his protracted transfer to his boyhood idols, the teenage sensation having made no secret of his love for his new club.
And he has now described the exact moment which convinced him blue was the colour, fellow striker Hasselbaink's sensational volley in Chelsea's 3-3 draw against Manchester United almost 11 years ago.
It was enough for the seven-year-old Lukaku to pledge his support to the west London club and begin a journey which saw him become a member of their star-studded squad.
"I used to watch Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring goals and remember one against Manchester United, the volley at Old Trafford, and I decided I wanted to support this team," Lukaku told his new club's official website, www.chelseafc.com.
Lukaku's own footballing talent was such that he soon began to fantasise about emulating his idols.
"I dreamed to play here since I was 10 years old, thinking about shaking hands with all those players like John Terry and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba," he added.
"It's amazing to arrive here in a big club with big ambition. It was just what I was searching for."
Lukaku, who reportedly cost between £15million and £20million, caught the eye of a number of Europe's top clubs after his free-scoring efforts for Anderlecht, but he was determined to move to Stamford Bridge.
His power, pace and eye for goal have seen him likened to new team-mate Drogba.
Lukaku said: "We have similar playing styles, but I am also very fast. I want to learn from him how it is to play here at the Bridge and how to prepare for games.
"I can also learn off the other strikers and experienced players in the squad.
"I think if you are clever on and off the pitch you will get accepted and that's what I want."
Lukaku's record in Belgian football was impressive.
He made his first-team debut at Anderlecht when he was 16 and averaged almost a goal every two games in the Jupiler League.
His goals helped Anderlecht win the Belgian title in 2010 and he scored three times in the Champions League qualifying round last season, although the team went out before the group stage.
Lukaku, whose father Roger played for Zaire in the 1990s, has won 10 caps for Belgium, scoring two goals.
He will wear the number 18 shirt for his new team and could not wait to get started.
He said: "It was a good experience to play in Belgium but I wanted to take a big step to join a big club and I said from day one that I wanted to go to Chelsea.
"To be here now is so good, there are guys with a lot of experience at international level and they won everything, but I didn't, I don't have the same feeling as them.
"I just want to win something so I am very hungry to start with these guys."
Chelsea failed to lift any silverware last season but Lukaku was confident that would be rectified this term.
"I understand there is a lot of pressure on the team but with the players that we have, so much experience and so much talent, and with a great boss also, you can see that we can be confident we can make a successful season," he said.
On his targets for the campaign ahead, he added: "First of all, I just want to learn and train as much as possible to improve myself and show the coach that when he needs me I am ready.
"Then I hope to make minutes for the team and be helpful for the team, because the team is the most important thing. If you think positively about the team it will be positive for you."
more..
