Tuesday 2 June 2015 14:35, UK
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has raised further doubts over his future at the club by questioning manager Roberto Martinez’s tactics and reiterating his desire to “play in the big games”.
The 22-year-old endured a disappointing first season at Goodison Park following his £28m move from Chelsea, failing to reach the heights of the previous campaign he spent on loan with the club when they finished fifth in the Premier League.
Everton recorded an 11th-placed finish this season but Lukaku has gone public on his demand to be 'challenging for trophies'.
"I want to win titles, not just be shadowing at the top," he told Belgium magazine Sport/Voetbal. "I want to know how it feels to play in the big games. I'm 22. It's time to win trophies."
The Belgium international has scored 36 goals in 73 appearances for Everton, but believes he would have more to his name had he played in a central role throughout his two seasons at the club:
"The coach (Roberto Martinez) is the boss but when I notice that something is not right then I say so simply.
"I am a striker. At one point I went to the coach and I said to him 'With all due respect, as a winger I'm hopeless. I will only score goals if you put me up front'.
"That was true. The games that I did not score I was on the flank. I played in the middle, then I scored."
Martinez dismissed concerns about Lukaku’s future in April after the player’s new agent, Mino Raiola, said his client would not have signed for Everton had he been responsible for the player sooner.
