Romelu Lukaku will not play again for SSC Napoli this season after returning to Belgium to continue rehabilitation on the injury that has troubled him since August 2025.
The decision was reportedly taken jointly between Napoli’s medical staff, the club hierarchy and coach Antonio Conte following what Italian media described as increasingly difficult attempts to manage the striker’s condition at Castel Volturno.
Lukaku, who turned 33 on Tuesday, will now continue his recovery programme at Belgium’s national team training centre as he attempts to regain fitness ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America.
The Belgian forward has been struggling with a serious rectus femoris injury in his left thigh, an issue that has repeatedly interrupted his rehabilitation process and prevented a full recovery throughout the campaign.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia had reportedly hoped to assess Lukaku in competitive action before finalising his World Cup plans. However, the focus has now shifted towards monitoring the striker closely during individual rehabilitation sessions.
Belgium are scheduled to face Croatia and Tunisia in friendly matches on June 2 and June 6, respectively, before opening their World Cup campaign against Egypt on June 15. Reports in Italy suggest Lukaku’s participation in the tournament is now far from guaranteed.
His absence also represents a major setback for Napoli, with the striker set to miss the final Serie A fixtures against Pisa and Udinese as the club attempts to secure Champions League qualification.
The development further fuels speculation surrounding Lukaku’s future in Naples after a difficult season in which he failed to rediscover the form that had helped the club secure their fourth Serie A title just a year earlier.
