Romelu Lukaku’s long-awaited return will boost Belgium’s World Cup hopes after weeks of uncertainty over whether the country’s record goalscorer would be fit in time for next month’s tournament.
Lukaku returns to Napoli on Monday, Italian daily Sports newspaper reported, after spending five weeks in Belgium recovering from persistent injuries.
The 32-year-old was fined by Napoli after failing to rejoin the club after the March international break, instead staying in Belgium to continue treatment with his favorite physiotherapist.
Lukaku had joined the Belgian squad ahead of a pair of World Cup warm-up matches, but did not travel due to hamstring and hip problems.
Napoli docked him 20 percent of his monthly salary, reports said, after he failed to return, although he returned on April 20 and was allowed to continue his treatment in Belgium. He did not speak to coach Antonio Conte, who expressed his disappointment in a television interview four days later.
«I didn’t have a chance to talk to him,» Conte said.
«I know one of our directors did that. Lukaku came to the training center. My office is there, but no one knocked on my door. That really hurt me,» the Napoli coach continued.
«I expected a greeting, a message or something like that. In these kinds of situations the coach tries to understand everyone, but no one really makes an effort to understand the coach. I did not expect this situation.»
Second-placed Napoli have three games left in Serie A this season. It houses Bologna and Udinese with a trip to Pisa in between.
Lukaku, who turns 33 later this month, has not started for Napoli this season. He made six substitute appearances and scored a goal in Verona in February.
He scored 89 times for Belgium, but won the last of his 124 caps in the 4-3 home win over Wales during World Cup qualifying last June.
Belgium will play against Egypt, Iran and New Zealand in Group G at the World Cup.
Published on May 5, 2026
