Napoli, Lukaku out for now: club cautious on his return date | OneFootball

No rush, no race against time. Napoli and Antonio Conte have chosen a cautious approach for Romelu Lukaku’s recovery, as he continues individualized work after the injury that sidelined him in recent weeks.

Napoli, Lukaku, no lightning-fast recovery: the club hits the brakes—here’s when he could return to the pitch

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Azzurri have decided not to speed up the Belgian striker’s return, considering a rushed recovery too risky at this still early stage of the season.

Treatment continues, but without skipping steps

The Rome-based daily emphasizes that “for Lukaku, treatment continues with the goal of returning as soon as the time is right.” The player is following a precise rehabilitation program, supervised by Napoli’s medical staff, who intend to ensure he’s in full physical condition before rejoining the group.

Lukaku, in fact, will not undergo a “lightning-fast recovery”: the healing timeline set after the latest tests points to a more conservative approach. The risk of a muscular relapse or incomplete recovery is considered too high compared to the immediate benefits.

Why Napoli left Lukaku off the UEFA and Serie A lists

The club from Naples chose not to include Lukaku on the UEFA list, a decision that reflects an awareness of a prolonged absence. As explained by Corriere dello Sport, “the league list can be updated at any time, while the UEFA list can only be modified in the event of qualification for the next round.”

This strategy allows Napoli to manage the player’s recovery calmly, avoiding excessive pressure and preserving squad stability in the meantime.

When Lukaku could return

The most optimistic forecasts, which imagined a return between late October and early November, are now outdated. Lukaku could be fully available to Antonio Conte only between January and February 2026, barring surprises or significant improvements in the coming weeks.

The season is long, and the coaching staff wants to ensure that the Belgian striker, fundamental to Conte’s tactical plan, returns in perfect physical and mental condition to face the second half of the league and, potentially, the decisive stages of the cups.

A gradual return to rediscover the real Lukaku

After a fluctuating first few months in the Azzurri shirt, Lukaku remains a key figure for Napoli: Conte considers him the ideal finisher for his 3-5-2, but the priority is to bring him back only when he’s at 100%. The coming weeks will be used to ramp up athletic work and test the response of the injured muscle. Only afterwards will the Belgian be able to train with the group again and then be called up.

Until then, the coach will have to continue relying on the alternatives in the squad, carefully managing the attacking phase while awaiting the return of his reference center-forward.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.