Napoli's Ultimatum to Lukaku: Freeze Out Threat Looms Over Striker's Absence
A growing rift between Napoli and Romelu Lukaku has emerged, with reports from Sky Sport indicating the club has issued an ultimatum: the Belgian striker faces being frozen out of the squad unless he reports to the training center by next Tuesday. This comes amidst claims from Il Mattino that Lukaku plans to extend his stay in Belgium for at least another week.
Lukaku notably declined to resume training with the club on Thursday. He remains in Belgium, focusing on individual recovery to regain full fitness for the remainder of the season. According to Il Mattino, Belgian medical professionals have reportedly advised Lukaku that his current fitness levels are far below what's required for the 2026 World Cup, prompting his decision to continue solo training in Antwerp.
The Naples-based publication further suggests that Lukaku is concerned his fitness won't improve significantly by training with Napoli during this break, especially as Rasmus Hojlund appears to have cemented his role as the team's primary attacking option. Il Mattino claims Lukaku has communicated to Napoli that he requires an additional seven to ten days of personal work before he can rejoin the team.
However, Sky Sport reports that Napoli is unwilling to accede to this demand. The club is reportedly prepared to fine the striker and will proceed with freezing him out of the team if he fails to return before the stated Tuesday deadline.
Lukaku's recent return to action follows a severe muscle injury sustained in August. Since his comeback, he has accumulated less than 40 minutes in Serie A and has scored just one goal across seven appearances in all competitions, highlighting his ongoing struggle with fitness.
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