Lukaku teases Standard boys: 'That’s your academy'

Romelu Lukaku mocked Standard Liège’s academy during a light-hearted training session with the Belgian national team on Thursday. The striker’s jibes came during small-sided games featuring players from both Standard’s and Neerpede’s youth setups. The session, held the day before a decisive match for the Red Devils, saw Lukaku join a group that included Axel Witsel, Adrien Moreira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Zeno Raskin and Aster Vranckx. Jérémy Doku, who had recently become a father, was also present and is set to feature against New Zealand on Friday evening Belgian time, though not necessarily from the start. The Red Devils were split into small groups for the drills, with the most vocal group positioned directly in front of observers. Standard’s representatives—Witsel, Moreira, Raskin and Theate—stuck together, joined by former Mauves players Tielemans, Saelemaekers and Lukaku. Thomas Meunier and Amadou Onana completed the group. Playful exchanges quickly turned into on-field banter between the two academies. In one sprint-and-shake drill, Theate and Raskin collided, prompting laughter and cheers from the rest of the squad.

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Lukaku seized the opportunity to needle Standard’s players when they lost, quipping: 'Yes, that’s Dreyfus Academy, isn’t it.' When Raskin won a contest, Lukaku retorted: 'Yes, you spent two years with us. That’s where you learned everything.' The session underscored the camaraderie among players from different backgrounds, blending current internationals with academy graduates from rival youth systems. Doku, who had trained with a focus matching his new paternal responsibilities, is expected to make his long-awaited competitive debut for Belgium in the upcoming fixture.

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The Red Devils’ training environment remains relaxed ahead of high-stakes matches, with squad morale visibly high during the session. Lukaku’s remarks highlighted the enduring ties between players who share roots in Belgian football’s youth structures, even as careers diverge professionally.