TheCable

Romelu Lukaku, Belgian forward, appears to have played down claims of a dressing room bust-up with team-mate, Paul Pogba, following Manchester United’s win over Southampton.

Reports had flooded the internet that the duo traded words in the dressing room over the penalty that United were awarded in the closing stages of the 3-2 win, in which Lukaku scored twice.

The Belgian striker had the chance to bag a hat-trick deep into stoppage time when United won a penalty.

It was Pogba, the team’s regular penalty taker, who took the spot-kick, which was saved by Saints stopper Angus Gunn.

A report in The Sun said Lukaku became angry with his teammate for not allowing him to take the spot-kick, stating that he would have done the same in the opposite situation.

The heated post-match row was said to have caught the attention of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the club’s caretaker manager, who had to calm the situation down.

“It was quite a stern conversation and Romelu was clearly not happy about what Pogba had done,” a United source was quoted as saying.

“He was quick to remind Paul how much he had helped him when he fell out with Mourinho.

“It needed Ole to calm the situation down.”

The 25-year-old posted a message on Twitter but did not specifically mention the incident.

When the hate don’t work they start telling lies…

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— R.Lukaku Bolingoli9 (@RomeluLukaku9) March 5, 2019

“When the hate don’t work they start telling lies…,” he wrote.

While Pogba has been suspended, Lukaku is expected to be in the United squad that will head to Paris for Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain.