Romelu Lukaku's agent denies claims the striker joined Chelsea for the money

Romelu Lukaku's agent has denied the striker joined Chelsea for the money, saying that interest from his former club 'touched his soul'.

The 28-year-old completed a £98m move from Inter Milan to return to Stamford Bridge, seven years after he originally left the club.

His move has upset Inter Milan fans after losing their star man who helped fire them to the Serie A title last season.

Lukaku's agent, Federico Pastorello, has felt obliged to respond to claims made over the move by releasing a statement.

Pastorello said: 'The narrative - that Lukaku's transfer was 'engineered' and 'forced' just to pander to financial interests - is leading everyone absolutely astray.

'Where Lukaku has never publicly expressed any unease or discontent about his experience at FC Internazionale, his contractual situation or the well known events of the Club, the interest of Chelsea has really touched Romelu's soul from the very first moment because that club means to him something unique and special.

'In recent days I have seen a video from 2009 in which the 16- year-old visited the Stamford Bridge stadium with his school and swore that one day he would play on that pitch.

'I recommend everyone to watch it carefully: it's impressive how clearly a 16-year-old boy was already drawing his future. He wanted to wear that shirt, he succeeded when he was only 18 and unfortunately he left before he could make his mark and win something important.

'This challenge remained like a bug in his heart and mind for all these years. And when, almost unexpectedly, the opportunity to try again came up - at the age of 28 after two seasons as a main player with FC Internazionale - he almost didn't believe it.

'It was a chance to come full circle and being the exemplary professional that he is, he decided it was time to accept that challenge again.

'Believe it or not, the supporters affection and the special bond with the city of Milan made him think about it for a long time: but then, once he made his decision, he carried on with conviction and firmness.'

In his statement, Pastorello also revealed that both he and the player have received angry threats from Inter fans, including some against his family.

He said: 'I would like to clarify that I have always accepted - and will continue to do so - confrontation and constructive criticism: they are part of the game for those who play a role with considerable media relevance.

'What we absolutely cannot tolerate are the falsehoods, insinuations, insults and threats we have received (also against my family and my daughters, i.e.), which have far exceeded the limits of civilisation, decency and tolerance.'

Lukaku's move back to Stamford Bridge comes seven years after they sold the striker to Everton for just £28m.

It's previously been reported that Chelsea have smashed their wage record to land Lukaku who will earn somewhere between £325,000 and £450,00-per-week at the club.

His wage could be as much as £160,000-per-week greater than their next highest player which is N'Golo Kante £290,000-per-week, while it puts him in the upper echelons of the Premier League's best earners.

The 28-year-old has unfinished business in England, having left United without making the impact he had hoped.

His exploits in Italy, plus the seismic transfer sum paid and earnings he will pocket, sends a clear message that the Belgian returns with lofty expectations to storm the goalscoring charts for the Blues.

'I'm happy and blessed to be back at this wonderful club,' Lukaku told the club's official website.

'It's been a long journey for me: I came here as a kid who had a lot to learn, now I'm coming back with a lot of experience and more mature.

'The relationship I have with this club means so much to me, as you know. I have supported Chelsea as a kid and now to be back and try to help them win more titles is an amazing feeling.