Napoli angry as Lukaku stays in Belgium without club approval

Multiple sources in Italy claim that ‘irritated’ Napoli could take disciplinary measures against Romelu Lukaku, who has decided to train in Belgium until next week without the club’s consent.

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Lukaku infuriates Napoli

Belgium international Lukaku has not returned to Naples, where he was expected to resume training this morning.

Several sources, including Sky, Il Mattino and Repubblica, claim that Lukaku was due to return to the club’s training centre after informing Belgium national team coach Rudi Garcia that he was not fit to face Mexico and the USMNT in international friendlies during the break and needed more time to get back in shape.

According to Sky, Lukaku is unwilling to return to Naples before next week.

He was expected to return this morning to continue training under Antonio Conte’s assistant, Cristian Stellini, as Conte himself has taken some time off and will return to Naples in the coming days.

Lukaku, on the other hand, has decided to remain in Antwerp to work on his full recovery at the same clinic where his compatriot and teammate, Kevin De Bruyne, was treated in recent months.

Lukaku, 32, suffered a high-degree muscle injury during the pre-season in August and has only played 64 minutes across seven appearances this term, scoring one goal.

According to Repubblica, Napoli could take disciplinary measures against their striker, who chose to remain in Belgium without the club’s consent.