Italian football club Napoli have confirmed they are evaluating potential disciplinary action against star striker Romelu Lukaku after he failed to report for training this week. The club issued an official statement on Tuesday announcing the player's absence and reserving the right to take appropriate measures.
Club Statement Confirms Absence
The statement from Napoli read: 'Napoli announce that Romelu Lukaku did not respond to today's call-up ahead of the resumption of training. The club reserves the right to evaluate the adoption of appropriate disciplinary measures as well as the continuation of the player's participation in the team on an indefinite basis.'
According to multiple Italian media reports, Lukaku has been training individually in Belgium without Napoli's permission since leaving international duty with the Belgian national team. The club had reportedly warned him that he could be excluded from the first-team squad if he did not return by Tuesday.
Lukaku's Explanation for Absence
On Monday, Lukaku took to Instagram to explain his situation, revealing he has been struggling psychologically throughout the 2025-26 season. The Belgian forward cited a combination of injury problems, personal loss, and fitness concerns as contributing factors to his current state.
'This season has been a lot for me from dealing with the injury and the personal loss,' Lukaku wrote. 'The truth is the last few weeks I wasn't feeling right physically and I had it checked out while I was in Belgium and it showed me that there was an inflammation and liquid on my hip flexor muscle.'
Personal and Professional Challenges
The 31-year-old striker has endured a difficult campaign, featuring only seven times across all competitions and scoring just one goal. His limited playing time came after the arrival of Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United, which pushed Lukaku further down the pecking order at Napoli.
Adding to his professional frustrations, Lukaku's father Roger passed away last September at the age of 58, which the player acknowledged has taken a significant emotional toll.
'It's been a lot this year,' Lukaku continued in his social media post. 'But in the end I will get there and help Napoli and national team to their respective objectives when called upon. That's all I want.'
Napoli's Current Situation
Napoli currently sit third in Serie A, just one point behind second-placed AC Milan ahead of their crucial clash after the international break. The match represents a significant opportunity for Antonio Conte's side to close the gap on their rivals.
League leaders Inter Milan, Lukaku's former club, maintain a six-point advantage over Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri's team with eight games remaining in the season.
Potential Consequences
The club's statement suggests Napoli's response could be substantial, with club lawyers currently examining the case. This disciplinary review comes at a critical juncture in Napoli's season as they push for Champions League qualification and potentially challenge for the Serie A title.
Lukaku joined Napoli in 2024 from Chelsea after two season-long loan spells at Inter Milan and Roma. His current contract situation and future with the club may now be in question depending on the outcome of Napoli's disciplinary evaluation.
