Lukaku, the celebrations in Benfica-Inter: what they mean – Corriere.it

Romelu Lukaku doesn’t miss a penalty. They also noticed it at Da Luz, where Inter accomplished a feat by beating Benfica 2-0 and mortgaging the semi-final of the Champions League. The Belgian is enjoying it. He struck with Udinese, Spezia, Juventus and now the Portuguese. After the goal in Lisbon, two different celebrations: the first was seen exactly seven days ago in the Coppa Italia against the black and whites (the same one also on 24 March with the Belgium shirt in the 3-0 win over Ibrahimovic’s Sweden) and it was the one that caused the yellow card (and then the expulsion for two yellows) of the controversy, the other has a special recipient. A secret, at the end of the season I’ll explain it, the attacker limited himself to saying to the triple whistle of the referee Oliver in Lisbon.

The first exultation, it was said, the one with the outstretched right hand resting on the forehead, similar to a military salute, and the left index finger in contact with the lips as if to silence someone. A week ago it seemed it could also be a sort of response to the chants of the Juventus curve (also guilty of racist insults against him), while against Sweden it seemed to be a tribute to compatriot Doku, his team-mate in the national team, absent due to injury and usually to cheer like that. Now for Lukaku he leaves the mystery open, saying precisely that he will explain the true meaning of his gesture at the end of the season.

The second exultation, however, Lukaku did after the hugs with his teammates and it’s not a mystery: Rom he used four fingers pointing down – this time smiling – as if to mimic the letter M. And here is the known addressee: the Belgian has chosen to dedicate the network to his mother Adolphineto which the player is very attached.

The known story. He raised him in poverty, but he still didn’t want for anything: I remember the exact moment I realized we were poor. I was six, coming home for lunch during our school break. My mom always had the same thing for her: bread and milk. When you’re a kid you don’t even think about it, but I guess that was what we could afford. Then one day I came home and walked into the kitchen and saw my mom at the refrigerator with the carton of milk as usual. But this time she was stirring something, she was stirring it. Then she brought me lunch and smiled like everything was fine. But I immediately understood what was happening: she mixed the water with the milk. We didn’t have enough money to last us all week. We weren’t poor, worse, Romelu said. Mum Adolphine was diagnosed with diabetes in the past and was a struggling woman even to buy her medicines. In short, an indelible bond. And of her who thought of Lukaku at Da Luz.