Lukaku Faces Consequences After Infuriating Napoli and Conte
Romelu Lukaku could incur a substantial fine for remaining in Belgium without official club authorization, and the striker is also expected to face repercussions on the field.
Lukaku has angered Napoli by choosing to stay in Belgium following his withdrawal from the national team, a decision made without the club’s consent.
The striker is reportedly spending several days in Antwerp, training at a specialized clinic previously used by Kevin De Bruyne for recovery from a high-grade muscle injury.
Lukaku's actions, which violate internal club rules, are anticipated to lead to consequences both disciplinary and athletic.
The former Inter, Roma, and Chelsea striker is likely to be hit with a significant fine, given he was scheduled to report back to Napoli's training center today.
Discussions between the club and Lukaku’s representatives are said to be ongoing, but the player reportedly intends to delay his return to Naples until next week.
While coach Antonio Conte is also on leave during the international break, his absence was agreed upon with the club, with assistant Cristian Stellini currently leading training sessions at Castelvolturno.
Lukaku's unauthorized decision has equally upset both the club and Conte. The Belgian is now expected to face a challenge in securing consistent playing time during the latter part of the season.
Having recently made his 2025-26 debut after a severe muscle injury in August, Lukaku has accumulated barely 60 minutes across seven competitions and scored just one goal.
His current decision is likely to result in even less game time, potentially jeopardizing his position within the Belgium squad for the upcoming World Cup.
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