Romelu Lukaku is facing possible disciplinary sanctions from Napoli after the Belgian striker failed to answer the club’s call-up to return for training on Tuesday, prompting the Serie A side to publicly question his future involvement with the squad.
Napoli confirmed on Tuesday that Lukaku did not respond to the club’s request to be back at the training ground for the resumption of sessions following the international break. In an official statement, the club said it is “considering how to act with disciplinary measures,” adding that it is also evaluating whether to exclude the forward from the squad on an indefinite basis.
The situation marks a serious escalation in tensions between the striker and the Italian champions, coming after Lukaku had withdrawn from Belgium duty citing fitness concerns but reportedly remained away from Naples instead of returning for club rehabilitation work. Reports in Italy suggest Napoli’s hierarchy and legal team are now reviewing the range of sanctions available, which could include heavy fines, exclusion from matchday squads, or more severe measures depending on the outcome of their internal assessment.
Lukaku, who joined Napoli to spearhead their attack and was expected to be a key figure in their domestic and European campaigns, now faces an uncertain future at the club if the dispute is not resolved quickly. The club’s firm public stance underlines the importance it places on what it describes as professional obligations, with officials insisting that all players must respect team call-ups and training schedules, especially at a decisive point in the season.
