By Dave Marshall
Manchester United legend, Ruud Van Nilsterooy expects new striker, Romelu Lukaku, to come good at the club after his big money move from Everton earlier this month.
The former Holland international was talking about the Belgian with the club’s official website, and stated that he sees the 24 year old performing well if he overcomes the mental pressure associated with playing for such an illustrious club.
Few strikers in Manchester United history can lay claim to having the impact that Nistelrooy had at Old Trafford, as the striker known as “The Predator in the box” scored an astonishing 150 goals in 219 matches for the club, in what was a hugely successful spell for the player between 2001 and 2006.
There are no better players to emulate at Old Trafford than Nistelrooy for Lukaku, and he will do well to take his candid advice if he wants to be successful at The Theatre of Dreams. He joined in a mammoth £75m deal from Everton, as United strive to return to the top of English football.
Speaking to manutd.com, Nistelrooy, said:
“Well, he’s proven himself at Everton,” the Dutchman, who himself bagged 150 goals in 219 games for the Red Devils.
“His challenge now is to make another step up and to prove himself at his new club as well.
“It’s different playing at United to playing at Everton, so it will be a mental step, too.
“The pressure is different, so if he’s capable of dealing with that, I can’t see any problems. I also think having better players around him will help and I think he’ll fit in really well.
“I expect he’ll start hitting his peak now. From the club’s point of view, it’s the perfect time to sign him.
“Over the next six, seven or eight years, United will hopefully have a great centre-forward in Romelu Lukaku.”
Lukaku is a powerful striker that has earned admirers for his finishing, pace, raw strength, and remarkable will to keep developing and be one of the best strikers in the game.
He scored 25 Premier League goals for Everton in the Premier League last season, and would have become the top scorer if not for a remarkable 8 goals in the last 3 matches by Harry Kane, who topped the stakes by netting 29.
