Sources confirmed to the newspaper that Napoli might suspend the participation of their Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku, with the team if he does not return to the club's training center by next Tuesday. Meanwhile, the player plans to stay in Belgium to continue his rehabilitation program for an additional week.

Lukaku refused to resume training with Napoli, preferring to continue individual training in Belgium to fully regain his fitness before the season resumes, after suffering a serious muscle injury last August and being absent from matches for an extended period.

The sources confirmed that Belgian doctors advised Lukaku that his current fitness level does not allow him to participate in the 2026 World Cup, which prompted him to stay in Antwerp to enhance his physical readiness before returning to the team.

Lukaku became aware that Rasmus Højlund is Napoli's first attacking option, and he fears that his physical condition might not improve if he joins the team during the break. Therefore, he requested the club for a period of seven to ten days of individual work before returning to group training.

The Italian club expressed its unwillingness to wait for such a long period, and it is expected to impose a fine on Lukaku or suspend his participation in matches if he does not return on time. It is worth noting that the player has not exceeded 40 minutes of play in the league since his return and has scored one goal in seven matches across all competitions, according to press reports including Sky Sports.