Napoli administration threatens Lukaku with punishment

Napoli, the Italian Football League champion, promised, through its sporting director, to punish its Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who is still in Belgium receiving treatment for a thigh injury.

Giovanni Manna said on the “Dazon” streaming platform before his team’s 1-0 victory over Milan at the end of the thirty-first stage yesterday, Monday: “Romelu decided to stay in Belgium to train and recover from his injury,” and added: “We are not happy with this decision, as we would have liked to speak with him here in Naples. He is expected to return next week, and he is fully aware of the consequences of this decision.”

The striker was called up to participate in the Belgian national team's tour of the United States, but was forced to withdraw from the two preparatory matches for the 2026 World Cup due to inflammation in the hip muscle, according to what he explained in a long message on Instagram.

Lukaku (32 years old) said in response to criticism from Napoli and its fans: “I decided to undergo rehabilitation in Belgium (...) but I will never turn my back on Napoli,” and explained: “All I hope for is to play and win with my team, but I am not in full physical fitness, and this affects my psychological state.”

After injuring his thigh during the pre-season, Lukaku did not return to competition until January, and since then he has participated in seven matches as a substitute, including 5 in the league, and scored a goal in a total of 64 minutes of play.

Lukaku, who previously played for Chelsea, Manchester United, and Inter, has been playing with Napoli since 2024, where he rejoined coach Antonio Conte, with whom he won the Italian League title last season.

Napoli's victory over Milan allowed it to seize second place, raising its score to 65 points, 7 points behind Inter, the leader and the second pole of the city of Milan.