Napoli decide to sideline Romelu Lukaku and plan summer sale

Napoli have reportedly decided to remove Romelu Lukaku from the first-team squad for the remainder of the season, marking a dramatic low point in the Belgian striker’s spell at the club.

According to Napoli.Repubblica, the move comes after Lukaku is said to have refused to return to training following the March international break, a decision that badly damaged his relationship with the club hierarchy.

With trust now broken, Napoli are understood to be taking a firm stance, opting to keep him out of the matchday squad rather than attempt a short-term reconciliation. The Serie A side are instead looking ahead to the summer transfer window, where they plan to offload Lukaku and draw a line under the situation as quickly as possible.

It is a sharp turnaround for a player who was initially expected to be a key figure in Napoli’s attack this season, both in the league and in Europe.

His future in Naples now appears effectively over, with the club preparing to listen to offers and the forward likely facing another move as he attempts to relaunch his career away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.