Farhad Moshiri told Everton shareholders at a meeting on Tuesday night that Lukaku was ready to sign a new deal at Goodison Park before receiving a "voodoo message," passed on by his mother, that he should sign for Chelsea. Lukaku moved to United in a £75 million deal in the summer, despite interest from Stamford Bridge.

A spokesman for the 24-year-old told the BBC: "Romelu's decision had nothing to do with voodoo.

"He distances himself from these beliefs and this statement and will now see what judicial steps can be taken in relation to them.

"Romelu is very catholic and voodoo is not part of his life or his beliefs. He simply had no faith in Everton and no confidence in Mr Moshiri's project. That is why he did not want to sign on any condition.

"He wanted to make the next step in his career and wanted the security to be able to leave."

Moshiri, who owns a 49.9 percent stake in Everton, told the club's AGM he offered to make Lukaku the highest paid player in the club's history before the Belgian's U-turn.

He said: "His agent went to Finch Farm to sign the contract.

"Then somehow during the meeting, Romelu called his mother and said she was on a pilgrimage to Africa and had seen some sort of voodoo message that said he had to sign for Chelsea.

"Last summer we offered him a better deal than Chelsea, whatever they offered we matched but he just didn't want to stay. "If I tell you what we offered him you wouldn't believe it."