Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has publicly criticized striker Romelu Lukaku after the Belgian forward ignored the club’s direct instructions to return to Italy for medical assessment.
The 32-year-old had withdrawn from Belgium’s recent friendlies due to a hip flexor injury but chose to remain in his home country rather than fly back to Napoli as requested.
Lukaku, who plays as a centre-forward for the Serie A club and his national team, has been dealing with recurring muscular issues. This hip problem marks the second such setback he has faced since returning from a longer hamstring injury earlier in the season.
In his defense, Lukaku explained on social media that scans conducted in Belgium revealed inflammation and fluid accumulation near scar tissue from his previous hamstring issue. He stated that he preferred to continue his rehabilitation with his personal medical team in Belgium, believing it to be the best course of action for his recovery.
Manna, who was appointed as Napoli’s sporting director on May 29, 2024, and is under contract until June 2027, made the club’s frustration clear. The 37-year-old Italian director emphasized that Napoli had issued direct orders for Lukaku to return to training and medical evaluation in Italy.