64 minutes. To date, this is the playing time of Romelu Lukaku (32 years old) for this 2025-26 season. The Belgian, who is not at the top of his form, has been bothered by physical problems throughout the year. It all started on August 14 with an ischio injury. Result: the former Manchester United and Chelsea player was out of action for 123 days. He missed a total of 22 matches in all competitions. He followed this directly with 37 days off due to a lack of training (7 missed matches). Returning to the field at the end of January, he returned to the infirmary around two months later due to a new muscle injury (33 days off, 4 missed matches).
A season in hell for the Red Devil
In total, he missed 193 days of competition and 33 matches this season. When he was fit, the Belgian was used 7 times by Antonio Conte. He thus participated in 5 Serie A matches as well as one Italian Cup match and one Champions League match. He didn’t start, but he managed to score a goal. It was February 28 against Hellas Verona in the championship. Beyond his health problems, the striker also had problems with his club. During the last international break in March, the player, who was out of action with the Red Devils, was expected in Naples to continue his treatment. But the main person decided alone to stay in his country to receive treatment for an inflammation in his hip.
This was not to the taste of the Partenopei, who expressed their dissatisfaction several times. The player, who assured on Instagram that he could not “never turn your back on Naples”missed several practices. Publicly reframed by sports director Giovani Manna, Lukaku was finally sanctioned by his club. “SSC Napoli announces that Romelu Lukaku did not respond to today’s summons for the resumption of training. The club reserves the right to consider the adoption of necessary disciplinary measures, as well as the suspension for an indefinite period of the player’s participation in collective training.”we could read in the press release of the Italian club.
The former Interist at AC Milan?
Two weeks later, La Repubblica revealed that the center forward will not play for Napoli again. Then, we learned that Antonio Conte, who has always maintained good relations with the player he brought to several of his clubs, was very disappointed with him. “I haven’t spoken to him. I know someone spoke to him, he came to the center, but I didn’t speak to him directly. My office was there though and no one came to knock on my door. I’m disappointed. I was waiting for something, even if it was just a message. In these situations, we try to understand all the players, but no one makes the effort to understand the coach. The divorce also seems complete for Big Rom, currently injured and who has not played again since the incidents. This Friday, Sports Mediaset reveals new elements in this file.
Thus, the Italian media explains that AC Milan is studying the path leading to Lukaku, who will leave Naples whether Conte stays or not. The Rossoneri, who want to recruit a quality center forward this summer, had already approached the Belgian striker in 2023 and 2024. If other avenues are followed, notably those leading to Lewandowski or Sorloth, the one leading to Lukaku is real. His experience at the high level and in the Italian championship make him a serious candidate. Especially since Naples, which wants to part with it, should not be too greedy for the footballer under contract until 2027. An amount of around €20 million is mentioned. An attractive price. Contacted by SM, the Lukaku clan did not wish to comment, while adding that the player is currently focusing on his fitness for the end of the season and the World Cup. What is certain is that a transfer to AC Milan would be experienced as a betrayal since the native of Antwerp wore the jersey of Inter, the sworn enemy of the Rossoneri.
