Serie A club Napoli announced on Tuesday that Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku is likely to receive a disciplinary sanction for failing to respond to the team’s call to return to training after the international break A8iskX.
The 32-year-old had withdrawn from Belgium’s World Cup warm-up matches against the US and Mexico to work on his fitness. However, he did not report to Naples.
«Napoli can confirm that Romelu Lukaku has not responded to today’s call to return to training. The club reserves the right to consider taking appropriate disciplinary action, and to determine whether the player will continue to train with the team indefinitely,» the club said in a statement.
The 32-year-old forward has defended his decision to remain in Belgium for treatment, citing ongoing physical problems that have hampered his return to top form.
“The truth is that I have not been feeling well physically for the past few weeks and I had it examined when I was in Belgium and it turned out that there was inflammation and fluid on my hip flexor muscle, in addition to my scar tissue,” Lukaku said on Monday.
«As this is the second problem I’ve had since I came back at the beginning of November, I have chosen to do the rehabilitation in Belgium so that I can help if I am called upon. I could never turn my back on Napoli, never. There is nothing I would rather do than play and win (with) my team. But right now I have to make sure I am clinically 100%.»
Napoli are currently third on the points table, seven points behind top flight Inter Milan, and will face second-placed AC Milan on Monday.
Published on March 31, 2026
