The striker suffered a serious thigh injury during pre-season and has missed several months.
Romelu Lukaku has delivered a positive fitness update after taking part in Napoli training.
Romelu Lukaku Return Imminent
Lukaku has been working on a return after suffering a serious thigh injury in pre-season back in August.
It was initially feared that he would be ruled out for the remainder of 2025 and perhaps even until next March, but the 32-year-old is now nearing an earlier-than-expected comeback.
The striker was spotted training separately from the rest of the first-team group on Tuesday, the day before Antonio Conte’s side travel to Benfica in the Champions League, and was in good spirits.
Under the watchful eye of Conte and sporting director Giovanni Manna, Lukaku took part in several drills.
After heading out for the session, the ace had waved to the cameras before declaring: “See you soon.”
He will not be available in Lisbon on Wednesday, but could be eased back in over the coming weeks. However, the club have yet to provide an exact date or timeframe for his return.
Lukaku was forced to sit out the entire first part of the campaign, but recovered sooner than anticipated. That allowed him to complete intense individual sessions, helping him to build up his fitness.
Napoli currently sit second in Serie A despite Lukaku’s absence, with the on-loan Rasmus Hojlund stepping in admirably.
Hojlund has scored six goals and chalked up two assists, including a match-winning double against Juventus.
🛑 Live da Castel Volturno – Ancora lavoro differenziato per Romelu #Lukaku. Il belga si è rivolto ai cronisti presenti con un chiarissimo: «Ci vediamo presto!» pic.twitter.com/5fNEOZiZZ0
— Carlo Gioia (@carlo_gioiaa) December 9, 2025
Romelu Lukaku’s Napoli Future
Despite helping lead the Naples side to the top-flight title last season, Lukaku’s future looks far from secure.
While he will be expected to reclaim his starting spot from Hojlund, the Dane’s arrival – and likely permanent move next summer – raises question marks over his role in the squad. This could lead to him being shown the door.
Lukaku’s deal is set to run down in June 2027, meaning Napoli could look for a sizeable transfer fee at the end of this season, as opposed to losing him for free once his terms tick down.
The former Manchester United man has regularly been linked with Saudi Arabia and turned down a move to Al Hilal in 2023.
Conte, though, is unlikely to be open to allowing Lukaku to go, having recently hailed him as “key”.
“He can do even more, because he’s a key player in winning the Scudetto, because we bought him for €30million and the cost/return ratio was top-notch,” said Conte in August.
“Training after so many years of not doing so can bring him a lot of benefits. He’s in the midst of his development. He’s one of the team’s key players, and we need players who can also acquire some leadership.”
