Napoli consider taking action against Lukaku for missing practice session

Napoli has initiated a disciplinary probe into striker Romelu Lukaku's actions after he neglected to appear for training despite being summoned by the club, sparking uncertainty about his immediate future with the team.

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The Italian champions confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday that the Belgian forward failed to comply with a request to report to the club's training ground, prompting the club to consider taking disciplinary action.

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According to Napoli's statement, "Napoli can confirm that Romelu Lukaku did not respond to today's call to return to training," and the club reserves the right to determine whether the player will continue training with the team indefinitely.

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Lukaku had previously withdrawn from Belgium's international matches against the U.S. and Mexico in the United States, citing injury concerns, and instead opted to undergo rehabilitation in Belgium rather than return to Napoli as instructed.

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Reports in Italy suggest that Lukaku chose to remain in Belgium for his rehabilitation, contrary to the club's expectations, and the 32-year-old striker has defended his decision as medically necessary.

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Lukaku explained that "the truth is the last few weeks I wasn’t feeling right physically," and medical examinations revealed inflammation and liquid on his hip flexor muscle next to his scar tissue, prompting him to undergo rehabilitation in Belgium.

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He emphasized that his decision was motivated by a desire to regain full fitness, stating "I could never turn my back on Napoli, never," and expressing his commitment to the club.

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Lukaku reiterated that his priority is to ensure he is "clinically 100%" before returning to play, and he hopes to contribute to the team's success once he has fully recovered.

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Throughout the season, Lukaku has struggled with injuries, scoring 14 goals despite missing a significant portion of the first half due to a hamstring injury, and since his return in January, he has only managed one league goal in five substitute appearances.

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Napoli currently occupies third place in Serie A, trailing leaders Inter Milan by seven points, and the team is preparing for a crucial matchup against second-place AC Milan on Monday.