<\/p>\n
Romelu Lukaku, at 32 years old, has endured a challenging 2025-26 season. With only 64 minutes of playtime to this date, the Belgian striker has been plagued by various injuries that have significantly hindered his performance. Starting with an ischio injury on August 14, Lukaku faced a setback of 123 days, leading to the loss of 22 matches across all competitions. Following his initial recovery, he was out for an additional 37 days due to inadequate training, which saw him miss another seven matches. Unfortunately, upon his return in late January, a new muscle injury forced him back to the sidelines for an additional 33 days, culminating in four more matches missed.<\/p>\n
Throughout this tumultuous season, Lukaku spent a staggering 193 days sidelined, ultimately missing 33 crucial matches. When available, he participated in just seven games under manager Antonio Conte, where he made appearances in five Serie A matches, one Italian Cup match, and one Champions League match, managing to score just one goal against Hellas Verona on February 28.<\/p>\n
However, Lukaku’s difficulties extended beyond mere injuries. During an international break in March, he was expected to return to Naples for treatment. Instead, he opted to stay in his home country to address a hip inflammation. This decision did not sit well with SSC Napoli, who expressed dissatisfaction over his absenteeism from training. The club’s sports director, Giovani Manna, publicly reprimanded Lukaku, leading to a formal announcement declaring his absence from training sessions. The club mentioned it would consider disciplinary actions, revealing the growing rift between Lukaku and Napoli.<\/p>\n
Fast forward two weeks, and reports from La Repubblica<\/em> indicated that Lukaku would not return to play for Napoli. Antonio Conte, who had always enjoyed a good relationship with the striker, expressed his disappointment. \u201cI expected something from him, even just a message,\u201d he remarked, illustrating the profound disconnect between coach and player.<\/p>\n Recent developments from Sports Mediaset<\/em> reveal that AC Milan is keenly observing the situation with Lukaku, signaling a potential transfer, regardless of Conte’s future at Napoli. Having previously shown interest in signing Lukaku in both 2023 and 2024, the Rossoneri are now seen as serious contenders, particularly with reports suggesting that Napoli may part ways with him for a modest fee of around \u20ac20 million. This price tag is deemed attractive given Lukaku\u2019s status and experience in the Italian league.<\/p>\n However, a transfer to AC Milan could be perceived as a betrayal by fans, given Lukaku’s previous association with Inter Milan, the club’s fierce rival. His connection to Inter makes this potential move highly controversial and fraught with emotional implications.<\/p>\n In conclusion, Lukaku\u2019s situation at Napoli has reached a critical juncture, marked by injury struggles and discord with the club. As rumors swirl about a possible switch to AC Milan, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how this tumultuous chapter unfolds for the Belgian forward.<\/p>\n