Romelu Lukaku Rejoins Napoli After Five-Week Injury Layoff

Injury-hit Lukaku closes in on comeback for club and country

The 32-year-old striker has missed Napoli’s run-in but aims to return for the final three Serie A games and World Cup Group G.

Napoli fined Lukaku 20% of his salary after he delayed his return from injury treatment in Belgium in March...

Romelu Lukaku is on track to return just in time to give Belgium a boost ahead of next month’s World Cup. After weeks of doubt over whether the country’s all-time top scorer would recover, his comeback looks set to go ahead.

According to Italian outlet Quotidiano Sportivo, Lukaku is scheduled to rejoin Napoli on Monday after spending five weeks in Belgium rehabbing persistent injuries.

Napoli fined the 32-year-old after he skipped his scheduled return following the March international break and stayed in Belgium to work with his own physiotherapist.

Lukaku had linked up with the Belgium squad for two World Cup warm-up matches but missed both due to hamstring and hip problems.

Reports said Napoli cut 20% from his monthly pay for the missed return, though he came back on April 20 and was allowed to continue treatment in Belgium.

He didn’t meet with coach Antonio Conte, who later expressed his frustration in a TV interview four days after the incident.

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“I didn't have a chance to talk to him,” Conte said. “I know that one of our directors did.

“Lukaku came to the training centre. My office is there, but ‌no one knocked on my door. That really hurt me. I expected a greeting, a message or something like that.

“In these kinds of situations, the coach tries to understand everyone, but no one really makes an effort to understand the coach. I hadn't expected this situation.”

Napoli sit second in Serie A with three matches left to play. They face Bologna and Udinese at home, with an away game against Pisa scheduled in between.

Lukaku, who turns 33 later this month, hasn’t started a league game for Napoli this season. He’s come off the bench six times and scored once, netting against Verona in February.

For Belgium, he’s tallied 89 goals in 124 caps, with his last appearance coming in the 4-3 home win over Wales during World Cup qualifying last June.

At the World Cup, Belgium are drawn in Group G alongside Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand.