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The relationship between Napoli and Romelu Lukaku has reached a dramatic breaking point. According to reports from La Repubblica, the Belgian striker is set to be excluded from the first-team squad for the remainder of the 2025\/26 Serie A campaign, effectively ending his season prematurely following a series of disciplinary and medical disputes. What began [\u2026]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The relationship between Napoli and Romelu Lukaku has reached a dramatic breaking point.<\/p>\n
According to reports from <\/span>La Repubblica<\/span><\/i>, the Belgian striker is set to be excluded from the first-team squad for the remainder of the 2025\/26 Serie A campaign, effectively ending his season prematurely following a series of disciplinary and medical disputes.<\/span><\/p>\n What began as a high-profile reunion with Antonio Conte has descended into a \u201ccold war\u201d between the player and the club\u2019s hierarchy at Castel Volturno.<\/span><\/p>\n The core of the issue stems from Lukaku\u2019s decision to remain in Belgium following the recent international break.<\/span><\/p>\n While Napoli expected the 32-year-old to return to Italy for assessment by the club\u2019s medical staff, Lukaku opted to continue an independent recovery program in Antwerp to treat a hip inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n Napoli Sporting Director Giovanni Manna did not hide the club\u2019s frustration, stating prior to the recent victory over AC Milan: <\/span>\u201cRomelu went to Belgium, had a slight setback, and preferred to stay there to train contrary to what we asked.<\/span> There will be consequences.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n The Partenopei hierarchy views this move as a breach of protocol and a lack of respect for the group\u2019s integrity.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite Lukaku\u2019s camp maintaining that the club was kept informed of his daily progress, the decision to seek independent treatment rather than reporting to Naples has proven to be the final straw.<\/span><\/p>\n This latest debacle caps off a nightmare season for the former Chelsea and Inter man.<\/p>\n Lukaku has been plagued by a severe hamstring injury for much of the year, limiting him to just a handful of appearances.<\/span><\/p>\n In a season where Napoli were desperate to retain their Serie A title, Lukaku has managed just one league goal in five appearances\u2014a far cry from the impact expected of a striker earning over \u20ac7m per year.<\/span><\/p>\n His absence has left Antonio Conte in a difficult position.<\/span><\/p>\n Conte fought hard to bring Lukaku to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in August 2024, but the tactical disruption caused by the Belgian\u2019s persistent unavailability has forced the manager to look elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n With a face-to-face meeting scheduled for Monday, April 20, the consensus in Italy is that the outcome is a foregone conclusion.<\/span><\/p>\n Lukaku is unlikely to wear the Napoli shirt again.<\/p>\n The club is now reportedly looking to offload his substantial wages in the summer transfer window.<\/span><\/p>\n Turkish giants Fenerbah\u00e7e have already been linked with a move for the striker, who still has a contract with Napoli until mid-2027.<\/span><\/p>\n The timing of this \u201cbanishment\u201d couldn\u2019t be worse for the Belgian national team.<\/p>\n With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Belgium\u2019s all-time leading goalscorer faces the prospect of heading into the tournament without any match fitness.<\/span><\/p>\n For Napoli, the focus shifts to securing European football and a strong finish to the season without their marquee summer signing.<\/span><\/p>\n For Lukaku, this latest chapter in Italy looks set to end in a bitter and unceremonious exit.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe Belgian Standoff: Unauthorised Absence and Injury Management<\/h2>\n
A Disastrous Campaign for the \u20ac30m Man<\/h2>\n
Summer Exit Looms as Fenerbah\u00e7e Circles<\/h2>\n
Impact on Belgium\u2019s 2026 World Cup Hopes<\/h2>\n