Romelu Lukaku could have ended up at Real Madrid had things panned out differently(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Romelu Lukaku's agent has revealed that Carlo Ancelotti wanted to bring him to Real Madrid - only for their pursuit of Kylian Mbappe to take priority. Lukaku, 32, is now settled at Napoli, helping them win the Serie A title last term after a few years in the wilderness.

During the summer of 2023, having fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge, the striker returned from a loan spell with Inter Milan but found himself unwanted. Roma eventually came to his rescue, as he joined the Italian giants for a season.

But things were nearly very different. Real were after a forward that summer and Ancelotti, a fellow former Blue, identified Lukaku as a target.

"I must be honest and say there was an opportunity, at a time when it wasn't clear where Romelu was going and with Ancelotti as coach," Lukaku's agent, Federico Pastorello, revealed to AS.

"They were thinking of reinforcing the forward line, but they were already focused on the big signing of...